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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for forced marriage
51 results foundAuthor: Kazimirski, Anne Title: Forced marriage: prevalence and service response Summary: This research sought to improve the understanding of the prevalence of forced marriage and to examine the way services are currently responding to such cases. The methodology comprised a literature review; a mapping study; a data sourcing and analysis exercise; and a qualitative case study element. Details: London, UK: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2009, 64p. Source: Internet Source Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117708 Keywords: Case ManagementDetectionForced MarriagePrevention |
Author: Chemonics International Inc. Title: Assessment on the Status of Trafficking in Persons in Egypt: Changing Perceptions and Proposing Appropriate Interventions Summary: Egypt is a transit country for women being trafficked from eastern European countries to Israel for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It is also a country of origin for women who are trafficked to Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab States, Jordan, Kuwait, and Yemen for the purpose of transactional marriage, in particular. Additionally, there are reports of Egyptians trafficked to work abroad. This report analyzes the various forms of trafficking based on a fact-finding mission to Egypt. The report describes trends in transnational trafficking while bringing to light new research on domestic trafficking. The report also emphasizes individual trafficking, as many forms of exploitation of women and children in Egypt are perpetrated by spouses, parents, or other family members. The report calls for a comprehensive response to the problem which would include the government, nongovernmental organizations, and other members of civil society. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2007. 72p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: Egypt URL: Shelf Number: 118743 Keywords: Forced MarriageHuman Trafficking (Egypt)Sex TraffickingSexual Exploitation |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund, Innocenti Research Centre Title: South Asia in Action: Preventing and Responding to Child Trafficking: Analysis of Anti-Trafficking Initiatives in the Region Summary: This report presents an analysis of anti-trafficking initiatives related to children in the South Asian countries of Afghanistan, Bangaladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. South Asian children continue to be trafficked for multiple forms of sexual exploitation – including prostitution, sex tourism, child pornography, paedophilia - and labour exploitation in agriculture, factories, domestic servitude and begging, forced marriage, adoption, military recruitment and debt release. The report includes several examples of laws and policies that could be enacted to prevent children from being trafficked and to protect children once they have been trafficked. Details: Florence, Italy: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2009. 70p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 8, 2010 at http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/ii_ct_southasia_analysis.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Asia URL: http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/ii_ct_southasia_analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 117638 Keywords: Child LaborChild PornographyChild ProstitutionChild TraffickingForced MarriageHuman TraffickingSex Tourism |
Author: Gangoli, Geetanjali Title: Forced Marriage and Domestic Violence Among South Asian Communities in North East England Summary: This study looks at forced marriages and domestic violence within South Asian communities in Newcastle, Sunderland and South Tyneside, and examines the following research questions: • Experiences, hopes and perceptions of marriage among South Asian women and men. • Experiences of domestic violence in arranged, forced and love marriages, and links between forced marriage and domestic violence. • Identification of areas for positive development for agencies and organisations. The report is divided into six sections. The first section places the report in the context of current debates on the subject, and explains the methodology. Section 2 concentrates on the mapping and assessment of domestic violence services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Sunderland and forced marriage services in Sunderland, Newcastle and South Tyneside. Section 3 examines the experiences of married women and men. Section 4 analyses the experiences and expectations of single women and men and young people. Section 5 examines the views of community leaders. Section 6 concludes the report by drawing out recommendations for action and research from this study and points to gaps in services and knowledge. Details: Bristol, UK: School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol; London: Northern Rock Foundation, 2006. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2010 at: http://www.bris.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2006/rj4334/rj4334finalreport.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.bris.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2006/rj4334/rj4334finalreport.pdf Shelf Number: 120544 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.)Forced Marriage |
Author: United Nations. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Title: Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking Summary: Over the past decade, human trafficking has moved from the margins to the mainstream of international concern. During this period we have witnessed the rapid development of a comprehensive legal framework that comprises international and regional treaties, as well as a broad range of soft-law instruments relating to trafficking. These changes confirm that a fundamental shift has taken place in how the international community thinks about human exploitation. It also confirms a change in our expectations of what Governments and others should be doing to deal with trafficking and to prevent it. On a very practical level, a human rights-based approach to trafficking requires an acknowledgement that trafficking is, first and foremost, a violation of human rights. Trafficking and the practices with which it is associated, including slavery, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced labour, debt bondage and forced marriage, are themselves violations of the basic human rights to which all persons are entitled. Trafficking disproportionately affects those whose rights may already be seriously compromised, including women, children, migrants, refugees and persons with disabilities. A human rights approach to trafficking also demands that we acknowledge the responsibility of Governments to protect and promote the rights of all persons within their jurisdiction, including non-citizens. This responsibility translates into a legal obligation on Governments to work towards eliminating trafficking and related exploitation. A human rights approach to trafficking means that all those involved in anti-trafficking efforts should integrate human rights into their analysis of the problem and into their responses. This approach requires us to consider, at each and every stage, the impact that a law, policy, practice or measure may have on persons who have been trafficked and persons who are vulnerable to being trafficked. It means rejecting responses that compromise rights and freedoms. This is the only way to retain a focus on the trafficked persons: to ensure that trafficking is not simply reduced to a problem of migration, a problem of public order or a problem of organized crime. Details: New York and Geneva: United Nations, 2010. 255p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Commentary_Human_Trafficking_en.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Commentary_Human_Trafficking_en.pdf Shelf Number: 120718 Keywords: Child LaborForced LaborForced MarriageHuman RightsHuman TraffickingOrganized CrimeSexual Exploitation |
Author: Malhotra, Anju Title: Solutions to End Child Marriage: What the Evidence Shows Summary: National and international communities are increasingly recognizing child marriage as a serious problem, both as a violation of girls’ human rights and as a hindrance to key development outcomes. As more program, policy, donor and advocacy constituencies pledge commitment, resources and action to address this problem, it becomes important to examine past efforts and how well they have worked. Finding model solutions to address child marriage has been a challenge because, while there has been increasing investment in programs during the last decade, many are not well-documented, and even fewer are well-evaluated. In this brief, we summarize a systematic review of child marriage prevention programs that have documented evaluations. Based on this synthesis of evaluated programs, we offer an analysis of the broader implications for viable solutions to child marriage. Our findings show that child marriage prevention programs have indeed expanded in number and scope during the last decade; almost two dozen have documented some type of an evaluation. The largest number of evaluated programs is in South Asia, especially in Bangladesh and India. Programs in a broader range of African and Middle Eastern countries, including Ethiopia and Egypt, are also adding to the evidence base. On balance, the results from this composite of evaluations lean toward positive findings, indicating that a set of strategies focusing on girls’ empowerment, community mobilization, enhanced schooling, economic incentives and policy changes have improved knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to child marriage prevention. The strongest, most consistent results are shown in a subset of programs fostering information, skills, and networks for girls in combination with community mobilization. While many child marriage prevention programs are only beginning to explore possibilities of going to scale, there are encouraging signs that large-scale structural efforts aimed at other goals, such as education, health, and poverty reduction, are beginning to make a connection with child marriage prevention. A smaller, but growing set of such programs is providing tentative but promising evaluation results, laying the foundation for building new partnerships and leveraging scarce resources. Details: Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW): 2011. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2011 at: http://www.icrw.org/files/publications/Solutions-to-End-Child-Marriage.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.icrw.org/files/publications/Solutions-to-End-Child-Marriage.pdf Shelf Number: 122233 Keywords: Child MarriageForced MarriageHuman Rights, Children |
Author: Simmons, Frances Title: Strengthening Australia's Response to Human Trafficking. Report to the Australian Women's Coalition Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide the Australian Women's Coalition with an overview of the evolution of the Australian Government's response to trafficking since 2004. The report makes recommendations about how to strengthen Australia's response to the emerging issues of labour trafficking, trafficking for forced marriage and the broader issue of criminal exploitation. Details: Sydney: Anti-Slavery Project, 2010. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.awcaus.org.au/resources/documents/TraffickingUpdate-UTS.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.awcaus.org.au/resources/documents/TraffickingUpdate-UTS.pdf Shelf Number: 122356 Keywords: Forced LaborForced MarriageHuman Trafficking (Australia) |
Author: European Commission Title: Feasibility Study to Assess the Possibilities, Opportunities and Needs to Standardise National Legislation on Violence Against Women, Violence Against Children and Sexual Orientation Violence Summary: Over the last three decades the connections between interpersonal violence, inequalities and human rights have received increasing attention in law, research and practice in the three fields of violence that are subject of this study: violence against women (VAW), violence against children (VAC) and sexual orientation violence (SOV). Human rights thinking has expanded beyond the use of violence by states in recognising that violence targeted at individuals as members of social groups and/or experienced disproportionately by members of disadvantaged groups is a state responsibility. Th is places the three forms of violence squarely in the arena of fundamental rights. The failure of states and state agencies to adequately protect the public against, and support them in the aftermath of discriminatory violence and violence resulting in harm to a child’s development not only means that victims experience violations of basic human rights, but that they are also deprived of equal access to basic needs as well as to justice, employment, leisure, community and political participation, freedom of movement — the latter all core elements of European concepts of citizenship. Whether in public or private, unchecked violence places fundamental rights in jeopardy. Definitions of violence vary widely, making the topic challenging and contested: moreover, international treaties and conventions frequently fail to provide specific definitions of the types of actions that should be prohibited or require protection. One outcome of this project is a set of proposed definitions of the forms of violence it addresses. The central task was to provide a coherent analysis of the need for, possibilities of, and potential hurdles to standardised national legislation across three fields of violence for EU Member States. To this end the Commission set five research tasks: the mapping of relevant legislation on VAW, VAC and SOV and its implementation; comparative analysis; a set of minimum standards; a model of factors affecting perpetration and how these are, or could be, addressed in legislation; a set of recommendations. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. 216p., app. Source: Internet Resource: accessed October 6, 2011 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110405MLT17038/media_20110405MLT17038.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110405MLT17038/media_20110405MLT17038.pdf Shelf Number: 122993 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDiscriminationFamily ViolenceForced MarriageHonour-Based ViolenceHuman RightsInterpersonal ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceStalkingViolence Against Women (Europe) |
Author: The Centre for Social Cohesion Title: Crimes of the Community: Honour-Based Violence in the UK - Second Edition Summary: In recent years, honour crimes have received an increasing amount of interest from the media, the police and politicians. This has been fuelled by the extensive coverage of the murder of several young Kurdish and Pakistani women by their families. This growing public concern has been largely welcomed by women’s groups and has prompted the government to take steps to tackle these crimes. However the media’s focus on honour killings and, to a lesser extent, forced marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has obscured the true scale of honour-based crime. Honour killings represent only the tip of the iceberg in terms of violence and abuse perpetrated against women in the name of honour. This study shows that honour killings, domestic violence, forced marriage and FGM are not isolated practices but are instead part of a self-sustaining social system built on ideas of honour and cultural, ethnic and religious superiority. As a result of these ideas, every day around the UK women are being threatened with physical violence, rape, death, mutilation, abduction, drugging, false imprisonment, withdrawal from education and forced marriage by their own families. This is not a one-time problem of first-generation immigrants bringing practices from ‘back home’ to the UK. Instead honour violence is now, to all intents and purposes, an indigenous and self-perpetuating phenomenon which is carried out by third and fourth generation immigrants who have been raised and educated in the UK. This report focuses on four aspects of honour-based violence: forced marriage, domestic violence, honour killings, and female genital mutilation. Many of these problems are common to all societies. Domestic violence and ‘crimes of passion’ exist worldwide. However, honour crimes differ significantly from other outwardly similar crimes. While typical incidents of domestic violence involve men using force against their wives, honour-based abuses regularly involve a woman’s own sons, brothers and sisters, as well as members of their extended family and in-laws. Similarly, the pre-planned and ritualised nature of much of this violence (particularly in the case of honour-killings and FGM) makes such behaviour distinct from other ad-hoc forms of violence against women. This study explains how and why many British women, and indeed many men, are told that they are not allowed the right to be independent, to have control over their own bodies and who are being denied, often through force, an opportunity to choose their own destiny. The report concludes with recommendations on what the government can do to prevent these abuses. Details: London: The Centre for Social Cohesion, 2010. 169p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 4, 2012 at http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/files/1229624550_1.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/files/1229624550_1.pdf Shelf Number: 123971 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceHonor Related Violence (U.K.) |
Author: Brandon, James Title: Crimes of the Community: Honour-Based Violence in the UK Summary: In recent years, honour crimes have received an increasing amount of interest from the media, the police and politicians. This has been fuelled by the extensive coverage of the murder of several young Kurdish and Pakistani women by their families. This growing public concern has been largely welcomed by women’s groups and has prompted the government to take steps to tackle these crimes. However the media’s focus on honour killings and, to a lesser extent, forced marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has obscured the true scale of honour-based crime. Honour killings represent only the tip of the iceberg in terms of violence and abuse perpetrated against women in the name of honour. This study shows that honour killings, domestic violence, forced marriage and FGM are not isolated practices but are instead part of a self-sustaining social system built on ideas of honour and cultural, ethnic and religious superiority. As a result of these ideas, every day around the UK women are being threatened with physical violence, rape, death, mutilation, abduction, drugging, false imprisonment, withdrawal from education and forced marriage by their own families. This is not a one-time problem of first-generation immigrants bringing practices from ‘back home’ to the UK. Instead honour violence is now, to all intents and purposes, an indigenous and self-perpetuating phenomenon which is carried out by third and fourth generation immigrants who have been raised and educated in the UK. This report focuses on four aspects of honour-based violence: forced marriage, domestic violence, honour killings, female genital mutilation. Many of these problems are common to all societies. Domestic violence and ‘crimes of passion’ exist worldwide. However, honour crimes differ significantly from other outwardly similar crimes. While typical incidents of domestic violence involve men using force against their wives, honour-based abuses regularly involve a woman’s own sons, brothers and sisters, as well as members of their extended family and in-laws. Similarly, the pre-planned and ritualised nature of much of this violence (particularly in the case of honour-killings and FGM) makes such behaviour distinct from other ad-hoc forms of violence against women. This study explains how and why many British women, and indeed many men, are told that they are not allowed the right to be independent, to have control over their own bodies and who are being denied, often through force, an opportunity to choose their own destiny. The report concludes with recommendations on what the government can do to prevent these abuses. Details: London: Centre for Social Cohesion, 2008. 170p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 4, 2012 at http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/CrimesOfTheCommunity.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/CrimesOfTheCommunity.pdf Shelf Number: 123972 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceHonor Related Violence (U.K.) |
Author: Davies, John Title: 'My Name is Not Natasha' How Albania Women in France Use Trafficking to Overcome Social Exclusion (1998-2001) Summary: This book analyses and explains a trafficking crisis experienced by a group of Albanian women in Lyon, France, between 1998 and 2001. The book proposes new theoretical explanations for Albanian trafficking that considers women’s experiences of social stigma and exclusion as becoming the main reason for Albanian women being involved in trafficking, after an initial period when young women were mainly deceived into abusive relationships that were then used to coerce them into forced labour. The Albanian trafficking discourse is currently dominated by the idea that Roma and rural women experiencing poverty and social disadvantage are coerced or deceived into trafficking networks that move them across borders and reduce them to sexual slavery because of the ‘demand’ of men for paid sex. This book argues that the conceptualisation that considers trafficking as being best explained by the ‘demand’ of men for paid sex and the naivety of the trafficked women is inadequate for explaining many of the trafficking experiences reported by the Albanian women in Lyon. This book contends that many women were initially deceived into marriage with men who then exploited them; these deceived wives were subjugated through the exploitation of patrilocal marriages that invested in the husband the ability to make non-altruistic household decisions. This meant that their migration could be understood by refining the new economics of migration model and the role of non-altruistic actors who might exploit its processes. Once the nature of trafficking networks became well-known Albanian women increasingly refused to accept such marriages. However, because other Albanian women lacked social networks able to support them in their migration goals, many socially excluded divorced women began to use the trafficking networks as a mobility strategy in pursuit of migration goals beyond prostitution. The book thus argues that many trafficked women were not motivated to migrate because of economic considerations but by a determination to achieve social rehabilitation through foreign marriage. These women wanted to chain migrate but their weak social networks could not sustain their intended migration. Therefore, these women used trafficking as a means to reach destinations where they could build new networks and strengthen their old social networks. Then they would eventually re-engage with their social networks without being an onerous burden. This is a new analysis based on previously unknown data and so the book is original and adds to our knowledge regarding trafficking as a means to pursue chain migration goals by compensating for inadequate social networks through the use of trafficking networks. The book concludes that rather than being best explained by ‘demand’ as a focal problem trafficking can be better understood by considering trafficking as a gendered aspect of crisis in a migration order in transition. This extension of Van Hear’s migration order theory is also a new application of the subjective notion of intolerability as being a substantial motivation for migration. Details: Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2009. 325p. Source: IMISCOE Dissertations: Internet Resource: Accessed February 29, 2012 at http://dare.uva.nl/document/174696 Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://dare.uva.nl/document/174696 Shelf Number: 124330 Keywords: Female VictimsForced LaborForced MarriageHuman Traffikcing (France)ImmigrationSex Work |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund. Innocenti Research Centre Title: Early Marriage Child Spouses Summary: This Digest focuses on early marriage - the marriage of children and young people under the age of 18 - from a human rights perspective. Research into early marriage has tended to concentrate on its impact on reproductive health, school drop-out and rising population figures, and there has been little examination of the practice as a human rights violation in itself. The Digest examines the scale of early marriage, its context, causes and its impact on every aspect of the lives of those affected - particularly young girls - and on wider society. It outlines strategies to help those who have been married at an early age, and for the prevention of early marriage through education, advocacy and alliance-building. The Digest concludes with a call for more rights-based research on an issue that has far-reaching consequences. Details: Florence, Italy: Innocenti Research Centre, United Nations Children's Fund, 2001. 30p. Source: Innocenti Digest No. 7, March, 2001: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2012 at http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/digest7e.pdf Year: 2001 Country: International URL: http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/digest7e.pdf Shelf Number: 125046 Keywords: Child MarriageChild ProtectionForced Marriage |
Author: Malviya, Aditya Title: Child Marriage: Robbing Children of Innocence - Good Practices in Preventing Child Marriage, Bihar Summary: Save the Children Sweden’s report “Child Marriage: Robbing Children of Innocence” documents the good practices and challenges in addressing child marriages from the experience of Save the Children India in the State of Bihar. The report highlights key learnings and gives recommendations that would make it possible to reduce child marriage significantly if government, INGOs and civil society organizations undertake appropriate measures and programmes to combat child marriage at national and community level. Details: Kathmandu, Nepal: Save the Children, Regional Office for South and Central Asia, 2010. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2012 at http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/rb?q=cmis/browser&id=workspace://SpacesStore/ae933eec-514c-4441-90e0-d0d53cbfc262/1.11 Year: 2010 Country: India URL: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/rb?q=cmis/browser&id=workspace://SpacesStore/ae933eec-514c-4441-90e0-d0d53cbfc262/1.11 Shelf Number: 125083 Keywords: Child MarriageChild ProtectionForced Marriage |
Author: Burn, Jennifer Title: Hidden Exploitation: Women in Forced Labour, Marriage and Migration: An Evidence Review Summary: This report exposes gaps in knowledge and services relating to the labour of women in Australia. Along with an assessment of the needs, it provides suggestions for a way forward in terms of possible partnerships for developing knowledge, services and advocacy. The gaps considered include labour force, forced labour, forced migration and forced marriage. Labour Force and Forced Labour While women have over the long term been overrepresented in part-time or casual employment, the increased use of precarious forms of employment is leaving many women, especially those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds at risk. There is a need for more legal protection as well as culturally and linguistically appropriate resources for community education on rights and services. While it appears that exploitation of children through work is not happening on a significant scale in Australia, it is important that a means of keeping a national watch on this is found. There is a clear history of exploitation of Indigenous women by way of overwork or government control of work or earnings. The situation of disadvantage in work remains in place for many today. Indigenous women are overrepresented among the unemployed and discouraged workers. Through the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) many are in effect underpaid for highly skilled work and long hours. The status of CDEP participants needs to be established so that more equitable outcomes can be put in place. In Australia employment legislation and instituted monitoring and intervention via the Fair Work Act, Fair Work Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman provide protection for workers. However, those in employment other than full time, permanent work are still relatively unprotected. Improvements are needed in relation to the relevant aspects of immigration law and anti-discrimination law and the anti-trafficking legislation needs a review. In addition, services (including language resources and education) are needed to improve access to protection and legal assistance for vulnerable workers, especially Indigenous women and women from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds or CALD backgrounds. The report outlines the definitions in international and Australian laws of “people trafficking”, “slavery” and “forced labour” and makes the case for criminalising forced labour. Forced migration Migrant women as a group tend to be vulnerable to varying degrees when it comes to work, because of factors including financial stress, language, lack of education or qualifications, social isolation or child care responsibilities. Among the most vulnerable are those people on temporary work or student visas who suffer from a lack of affordable housing and poor access to information about work rights. Being without a valid visa adds another dimension. Forced marriage For foreign partners of Australian citizens, family violence may mask forced or servile marriage, so education of community workers is needed for the full protection of the women concerned. All of these situations are complex legally and culturally, so community consultation is critical and the safety of each woman needs to have priority. The many opportunities for further work include research, community consultation, awareness raising, service provision and advocacy. Details: Abbotsford, VIC: Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, 2012. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2012 at: http://www.goodshepherd.com.au/sites/default/files/files/0556%20GOOD%20SHEPHERD%20HIDDEN%20EXPLOITATION%20EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY%20FINAL%20ONLINE%5B1%5D%5B2%5D.pdf (executive summary) Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.goodshepherd.com.au/sites/default/files/files/0556%20GOOD%20SHEPHERD%20HIDDEN%20EXPLOITATION%20EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY%20FINAL%20ONLINE%5B1%5D%5B2%5D.pdf (executive summary) Shelf Number: 125224 Keywords: Child LaborForced Labor (Australia)Forced MarriageForced MigrationHuman TraffickingSexual ExploitationViolence Against Women |
Author: Roy, Sumanta Title: The Missing Link: A Joined Up Approach to Addressing Harmful Practices in London Summary: This study was commissioned and funded by the Greater London Authority to address a knowledge gap on the needs of black, minority ethnic and refugee (BMER) women experiencing harmful practices (HPs). The specific aim of the study was to provide a document which would help to engage commissioners, funders, policy-makers and frontline practitioners to improve the way London responds to HPs. The study was carried out between December 2010 and March 2011. There is no universal definition nor is there an exhaustive list of harmful practices. The term ‘harmful traditional practices’ was used by the World Health Organisation in 1979 at a regional seminar held in the Sudan as a less contentious cover for raising the subject of female genital mutilation. It was used at a time when the issue was considered to be too controversial to be raised as a single issue. Henceforth, other practices, including early marriage and forced feeding, along with female genital mutilation were referred to as harmful traditional practices. Historically, there are practices that would not be considered to be gender-based violence within the evolving definition of HPs. The United Nations has defined harmful traditional practices as: "forms of violence that have been committed against women in certain communities and societies for so long that they are considered part of accepted cultural practice. These violations include female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM), dowry murder, so-called ‘honour killings,’ and early marriage. They lead to death, disability, physical and psychological harm for millions of women annually" (UNFEM 2007). In addition to the above list, acid attacks would also be a type of HP (UN 2009:4). There are a number of reasons why these forms of violence may occur. First, harmful practices, as forms of violence against women, are rooted in gender inequality. Other reasons cited often include ‘traditional’ values, such as the authority and wisdom of parents and children’s duty of obedience. However, the commonality between these forms of violence tends to be the existence of established hierarchical power-relationships between men and women and between parents and children. Despite their harmful nature and their violation of international human rights laws, such practices persist because they are not questioned and take on an aura of morality in the eyes of those practicing them (UN, Office of the High Commissions for Human Rights, undated).The United Nations recognises that “the ways in which culture shapes violence against women are as varied as culture itself” (UN 2009:7). For example, some writers have referred to the phenomenon of ‘date rape’ as a cultural norm although it is not always labelled as such. Some academics have argued that there is inadequate focus on harmful practices in western societies. Jeffreys (2005), for example, argues that prostitution and pornography are harmful practices yet are rarely discussed in the context of cultural practices. Furthermore, it is evident that new HPs are constantly developing, and existing HPs have altered as a result of globalisation, migration and practices against women (UN 2009:7,11). For this study, the term ‘harmful practices’ was used instead of ‘harmful traditional practices’. The use of the word tradition was considered to be inappropriate for a number of reasons. By framing violence in certain communities as a custom, tradition or within a religious context it implies that violence against women and girls (VAWG) is an accepted norm or practice and makes it difficult to understand and challenge from within the VAWG framework. In addition, ‘traditional’ reinforces the ghettoisation of violence against women in BMER communities. Details: London: Greater London Authority, 2011. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2012 at: http://www.imkaan.org.uk/index_htm_files/The%20Missing%20Link%20Full%20Report%20September%202011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.imkaan.org.uk/index_htm_files/The%20Missing%20Link%20Full%20Report%20September%202011.pdf Shelf Number: 125422 Keywords: Female Genital MutilationForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceHonor-Based ViolenceViolence Against Women (U.K.) |
Author: Natale, Katrina Title: “I Could Feel My Soul Flying Away From My Body”: A Study on Gender-Based Violence During Democratic Kampuchea in Battambang and Svay Rieng Provinces Summary: More than thirty years have passed since the fall of the Khmer Rouge state, Democratic Kampchea. In this time, the world has become aware of the many atrocities that the population suffered at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, including forced transfer and evacuation, extrajudicial killing, forced labor, starvation, illness and death. In contrast to the widespread scholarship and public acknowledgment that these issues have received, reports of gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge have benefitted from relatively little study and attention. This small-scale study was undertaken to build on the few other research studies which have been conducted on the topic of GBV in Democratic Kampuchea. The main objective of the study was to shed more light on the nature and characteristics of GBV under the Khmer Rouge by gathering data on: 1) the types of GBV perpetrated during Democratic Kampuchea; 2) the victims and perpetrators of this violence; 3) the location and circumstances under which it occurred; and 4) how this data compares to that collected through previous studies. Interviews for this survey were conducted in September and October 2010 with 104 respondents aged between 42 and 84 years old residing in Battambang and Svay Rieng provinces. Respondents were interviewed confidentially about their knowledge and experiences of GBV while living in Democratic Kampuchea using a semi-structured survey questionnaire which included both open and closed questions. As the second case before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) moves forward and other transitional justice and peace-building initiatives are developed, this report aims to raise awareness of the issue of GBV under the Khmer Rouge, bring acknowledgment to the victims, situate the findings of this study within the context of international law and scholarship on GBV, refocus attention on accountability mechanisms targeting GBV and encourage the integration of this knowledge into all initiatives which address the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. Details: Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Cambodian Defenders Project, 2011. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 4, 2012 at: http://www.svri.org/SoulFlying.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Cambodia URL: http://www.svri.org/SoulFlying.pdf Shelf Number: 127120 Keywords: Forced MarriageGender-Based Violence (Cambodia)RapeSexual MutilationSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Plan Asia Title: Asia Child Marriage Initiative: Summary of Research in Bangladesh, India and Nepal Summary: Child marriage is one of the most prevalent and serious violations of human rights. The issue needs urgent attention in South Asia, where 46 per cent of children are married formally or in informal union before they are 18. Girls are significantly more likely than boys to be married as children – 30 per cent of girls aged 15-19 years are currently married or in union in South Asia, compared to just 5 per cent of boys in the same age bracket. So why does child marriage happen when we know that the social, economic and human costs are so high? The answer lies in how deeply rooted child marriage is in the social norms of many societies, fuelled by tradition, religion and poverty. Awareness of the legalities of child marriage – it’s outlawed in most countries around the world – has little bearing on behaviour because customary laws, social norms and poverty-driven economic needs often trump national policies and legislation. Child marriage is a far-reaching issue that impacts not only the lives of the children who are married, but also the lives of those around them. When girls marry young, before their minds and bodies are fully developed, they often become pregnant long before they are ready. Pregnancy is the number one cause of death among girls aged 15-19 worldwide. Child marriage also reinforces the gendered nature of poverty, with limited education and skills bringing down the potential of the girl, her family, her community and her country. These impacts extend throughout a girl’s adult life and into the next generation. Plan International’s global Because I am a Girl (BIAAG) campaign focuses on child marriage as a key barrier to progress in child rights. Child Marriage and Girls’ Education – Plan’s first global report on this issue – focuses on the links between these two critical areas of child development. In Asia, Plan has designed the Asia Child Marriage Initiative (ACMI) to help prevent child marriage and mitigate its negative consequences on children, families and communities. Plan has worked closely with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) on the qualitative study presented here to give child marriage the attention it deserves and help us better understand where we’re at with the issue in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The study brings out the influence of gender norms and their interplay with the aspirations of girls and their families. The probe into the role of village-based institutions and children’s organisations has given valuable insight into how communities can be engaged to be part of the solution. Some emerging trends, like child-initiated marriages, have also been unearthed by the study, and these will require further investigation. Details: Bangkok, Thailand: Plan Asia, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2013 at: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PLAN%20ASIA%20Child%20Marriage-3%20Country%20Study.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Thailand URL: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PLAN%20ASIA%20Child%20Marriage-3%20Country%20Study.pdf Shelf Number: 128129 Keywords: Child Marriage (Thailand)Child ProtectionForced Marriage |
Author: MOVISIE (Netherlands Centre for Social Development) Title: Combating Honor Related Violence, Forced Marriages and Abandonment. Policy, Good Practices and Success Factors in Cyprus, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Turkey Summary: This Toolkit against violence has been developed by MOVISIE for organizations that are committed to tackling honour related violence, forced marriages and abandonment. This Toolkit was especially developed for grass roots organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in Europe that are addressing honour related violence, forced marriage and abandonment. The content is based on practical experiences from sister organizations in Sweden, Germany, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Turkey. The experiences from the participating organizations were collected and described by the project team of the 'Flying Team against Violence', a collaboration between organizations from the aforementioned countries. Each team member interviewed several grass roots organizations and NGO’s in their respective countries. Good practices were described and an inventory was made of conditions and factors that made these practices successful. Details: Utrecht: MOVISIE (Netherlands Centre for Social Development), 2012. 6 volumes Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2013 at: http://www.movisie.com/toolkit-against-violence-0 Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://www.movisie.com/toolkit-against-violence-0 Shelf Number: 128378 Keywords: Forced MarriageHonor Related ViolenceViolence Against Women (Cyprus, Germany, Netherlan |
Author: Boyden, Jo Title: Harmful Traditional Practices and Child Protection: Contested Understandings and Practices of Female Child Marriage and Circumcision in Ethiopia Summary: This paper explores local perspectives on female child marriage and circumcision in Ethiopia. Both practices are widespread still, despite international and national efforts to eradicate them, and reflect deep-rooted patriarchal and gerontocratic values regulating transactions between kin groups at marriage and women’s reproduction. Both have been designated as Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) by the Ethiopian government and are proscribed by law, with designated punishments. This is in line with Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which calls for the prohibition of traditional practices that are prejudicial to the health and well-being of children. Apart from the fact that both practices are labelled ‘harmful’ and relate only to girls, the main reason for considering female child marriage and female circumcision together is that the latter tends to be seen as a necessary precursor to former. The paper explores the values that drive these practices and examines whether and in what ways they have been affected by efforts to eradicate them. It points to the complexity of beliefs and practices, highlighting differences associated with ethnicity, religion, generation and gender. It finds that the efforts of government and elite leaders to eradicate them are contributing to the diminution or transformation of female circumcision and female child marriage, although with marked regional variations and considerable contestation and resistance in some places. In mapping these processes of change, the paper identifies trends in premarital sex, clandestine surgeries, and other subterfuges that may demonstrate unexpected consequences and adverse reactions to laws which were intended to protect children. In doing so, it emphasises the challenges confronted by child- protection measures designed to bring about change to long-established customs. The analysis draws on interviews with 25 children and young people from five communities, as well as their peers, caregivers and community representatives, conducted in 2007, 2008 and 2011. The paper uses both statistical and ethnographic evidence to assess the prevalence of the two customs and the cultural and material logic underpinning them. It gives an overview of the external forces militating for change and presents evidence on trends of change. This is followed by analysis of the personal experiences of Young Lives children and the discourses against the practices, as well as a consideration of the resistance to change. Finally, the discussion reflects on wider issues of modernity and rising aspirations for girls. Details: Oxford, UK: Young Lives, 2013. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 93: Accessed April 22, 2013 at: http://www.younglives.org.uk/files/working-papers/yl-wp93_boyden-et-al Year: 2013 Country: Ethiopia URL: http://www.younglives.org.uk/files/working-papers/yl-wp93_boyden-et-al Shelf Number: 128421 Keywords: Child MarriageChild Protection (Ethiopia)Forced Marriage |
Author: Turner, Catherine Title: Out of the Shadows: Child Marriage and Slavery Summary: This report reviews the literature available on child marriage to show that a potentially high proportion of children in marriage are in slavery. Despite a good deal of publicity around child marriage its links with slavery have received very little attention to date. As not all child marriage (involving under 18 year-olds) is slavery, the report outlines the relevant international slavery framework to help clarify when child marriage could amount to slavery. It also notes gaps at the international level for addressing child marriage as a slavery issue, and at the national level in terms of tackling it in law and practice. It also deals with the complexity of root causes. Details: London: Anti-Slavery International, 2013. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2013 at: http://www.antislavery.org/includes/documents/cm_docs/2013/c/child_marriage_final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.antislavery.org/includes/documents/cm_docs/2013/c/child_marriage_final.pdf Shelf Number: 128826 Keywords: Child MarriageChild ProtectionChild SlaveryForced Marriage |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary on Violence against Children Title: Protecting Children from Harmful Practices in Plural Legal Systems with a Special Emphasis on Africa Summary: Across regions, millions of children continue to suffer from various forms of harmful practices, including female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage, breast ironing, son preference, female infanticide, virginity testing, honour crimes, bonded labour, forced feeding and nutritional taboos, accusation of witchcraft, as well as a great number of other less known practices. Harmful practices may be traditional or emerging, but generally have some cultural, social or religious underpinning. Common for most harmful practices is that they have devastating consequences on the child’s life, development, health, education and protection. The UN Study on Violence against Children urged states to prohibit by law all forms of violence against children, including harmful practices. This recommendation is a key priority for the mandate of the Special representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children as well as for Plan International. To advance progress in the implementation of this recommendation, they co-organized an expert consultation, in June 2012. This thematic report was informed by those important discussions. Details: New York: UNICEF, 2012. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2013 at: http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/publications_final/SRSG_Plan_harmful_practices_report_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Africa URL: http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/publications_final/SRSG_Plan_harmful_practices_report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 128966 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildren, Crimes AgainstForced MarriageHonor Related ViolenceViolence Against Children (Africa) |
Author: IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Title: Youth in Crisis: Coming of Age in the 21st Century Summary: Across the globe, a generation of youth is rapidly reaching adulthood bearing the tragic consequences of their nations’ worst problems. In this ‘Youth in Crisis’ In-Depth, IRIN traces the impact of the events shaping their lives, from the illegal forced marriage of teenage girls in Afghanistan and Ethiopia, to the tripling of school fees and the deteriorating education system in Zimbabwe. Cultural conservatism, as well as fear of attacks on schools by Taliban insurgents, and poverty, mean half of all Afghan children do not go to school, and those who do often ‘graduate’ to unemployment. To be young in some nations is to be more disadvantaged than one’s parents were: the numbers of children attending school in the Republic of Congo has fallen from almost 100 per cent before the 1998-2002 civil war to below 75 percent now. The same is true in northern Uganda where high illiteracy rates are a consequence of two decades of war and insecurity, condemning Acholi youngsters brought up in displaced peoples’ camps to a life of far fewer opportunities than older siblings, parents and even grandparents. Educational and economic collapse is given as one reason for the ease with which militias in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo recruited teenagers into their ranks - demobilisation programmes struggle to convince many of them to resume civilian lives. Young Somalis, who escaped violence at home, face a different problem: as part of an ‘educated elite’ at schools in refugee camps in Kenya, they are unable to put their education to good use as long as Kenya’s government curtails their movement outside the camps. Life beyond school is equally challenging: some medical students in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, arrive hours before classes just to save a space close enough to a university lecturer to hear him speak. Classes often stretch to more than 1,200 students and lecturers demand financial rewards for granting students good marks. Young Guineans with degrees end up hawking goods on city streets - a factor influencing their decision to agitate for political change, which they say “is going to come with violence”. University campuses in Côte d’Ivoire have become a breeding ground for pro-government political militancy and extortion, while Nigeria is trying to curb the influence of predatory student cults that in the past few years have opened fire on students in examinations, and continue to intimidate or kill anti-cult activists. Gang culture dominates the lives of tens of thousands of South Africans in Cape Town. In addition, youngsters addicted to tik (crystal meth) land up in juvenile detention centres where conditions and counselling are inadequate. Street gangs are also common in N’Djamena, capital of Chad, a country where the role of the youth is said to have been crucial to every political transition since 1975. Emotionally bereft, many Rwandan teenagers are not rebelling but still recovering from the 1994 genocide that defined their lives. Loss and injustice also characterise the lives of an estimated 250,000-300,000 Kenyan street children, while three-quarters of Kenyan sex workers interviewed for a United Nations report said they felt commercial sex was an acceptable way to make money. In Pakistan, the wealth gap between rich and poor is blamed for a surge in petty crime, committed mostly by people aged 16-25 years. Drug addiction is also a problem among the young and privileged. Since the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States and the war in Afghanistan that followed, many middle-class boys in Pakistan have been turning away from Western lifestyles and identifying with extremist Islamic groups and the violence they promote. ‘Soul hunters’ from religious or criminal groups in the densely populated Ferghana Valley linking Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan prey on young people facing unemployment or migration to Russia or Kazakhstan - vocational training set up under the Soviet system to provide skills for the labour market has collapsed. In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, some young people take pride in joining groups involved in what they term resistance to Israel, while in Lebanon more teenagers have joined Lebanon’s Hezbollah political party since the 2006 war between Hezbollah militias and Israel’s largely conscripted army. In Iraq, some families say they would rather see their teenagers and children die fighting American soldiers than become victims of spiralling sectarian violence. These issues form part of IRIN’s In-Depth on ‘Youth in Crisis,’ which also contains features on the transition from childhood to adulthood, education, war, migration, HIV/AIDS, violence and urbanisation, as well as photos, links and references. Details: Nairobi: IRIN, 2007. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: IRIN In-Depth: Accessed June 25, 2013 at: http://www.irinnews.org/pdf/in-depth/youth-in-crisis-irin-in-depth.pdf Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://www.irinnews.org/pdf/in-depth/youth-in-crisis-irin-in-depth.pdf Shelf Number: 129162 Keywords: Forced MarriageGangsStreet ChildrenYouth PovertyYouth Violence |
Author: Roudi-Fahimi, Farzaneh Title: Ending Child Marriage in the Arab Region Summary: This policy brief presents the latest data on child marriage in the Arab region, which includes members of the League of Arab States (stretching from Morocco to Oman). It explains how ending child marriage would help countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aim to combat poverty and improve health and quality of life for all. The brief emphasizes the importance of taking a broad approach to end child marriage, including mandating more years of compulsory education, setting and enforcing the legal minimum age of marriage, raising community awareness about the harm caused by early marriage, and involving families to find ways to prevent child marriage. Details: Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau, 2013. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief: Accessed July 9, 2013 at: http://www.prb.org/pdf13/child-marriage-arab-region.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.prb.org/pdf13/child-marriage-arab-region.pdf Shelf Number: 129341 Keywords: Child Marriage (Arab Region)Child ProtectionForced Marriage |
Author: Surtees, Rebecca Title: After Trafficking: Experiences and Challenges in the (Re)integration of Trafficked Persons in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region Summary: (Re)integration is a process that involves many steps after the individual's exit from trafficking. Ideally trafficked persons are identified and provided with a range of services to support their social and economic (re)integration. Many trafficked persons interviewed for this study were assisted and supported in these ways. Others were not fully supported through these stages but nonetheless did receive assistance that was valuable toward their recovery and (re)integration. Interviews with trafficked persons yielded many positive examples and experiences, including the important role played by various actors and agencies and (re)integration services in recovery and (re)integration processes. Nonetheless, many trafficked persons in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) did not have access to these "ideal" pathways and their experiences following their emergence from trafficking further exacerbated their ordeals. Many were neither identified nor assisted as victims of trafficking, which meant they did not receive support to aid in their recovery and sustainable (re)integration. Some trafficked persons received some forms of assistance but not the full package they required (and were entitled to) to move on from their trafficking experience and (re)integrate into society. Equally important, some preferred not to be assisted and declined some or all support offered to them. Understanding these diverse and complex post-trafficking trajectories sheds light on a wide range of issues and dynamics at play in the (re)integration processes in the GMS. It also highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of existing (re)integration mechanisms and processes. The study was based on in-depth interviews with 252 trafficked persons about their experiences of (re)integration, including successes and challenges, as well as future plans and aspirations. The trafficked persons interviewed for this study came from all six countries in the GMS and included men, women and children, trafficked for various forms of forced labour, sexual exploitation, begging and/or forced marriage. The study included persons who had been identified and assisted, as well as those who were not identified and/or did not receive assistance. This research study was undertaken in the context of the a region-wide (re)integration initiative under Project Proposal Concept 5 (PPC5) within the 2nd COMMIT Sub-regional Plan of Action (2008-2010), which sought to assess the effectiveness of (re)integration processes and structures in the region. It continued under the 3rd COMMIT Sub-regional Plan of Action (2011-2013) under Area 3, Protection. While the study is intended for anti-trafficking policymakers and practitioners in the GMS, these findings also have relevance for practitioners and policy makers in other countries and regions who are seeking to enhance their anti-trafficking response, in line with the interests and experiences of trafficked persons. Details: Bangkok: UNIAP/Nexus Institute, 2013. 252p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2014 at: http://www.nexusinstitute.net/publications/pdfs/After%20trafficking_Experiences%20and%20challenges%20in%20(Re)integration%20in%20the%20GMS.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.nexusinstitute.net/publications/pdfs/After%20trafficking_Experiences%20and%20challenges%20in%20(Re)integration%20in%20the%20GMS.pdf Shelf Number: 132084 Keywords: BeggingForced LaborForced MarriageHuman TraffickingReintegrationSex TraffickingSexual ExploitationVictims of Crime |
Author: Myers, Juliette Title: Untying the Knot: Exploring Early Marriage in Fragile States Summary: Tying the knot: an expression that for most of us evokes happy memories of one of the best days of our lives. However, the fun of planning the wedding and the heady excitement of the first weeks of marriage will not be the experience of 13.5 million girls this year. Instead, fearing threats, and encouraged or coerced into marriage as a means of protection, nearly one-in-three girls in developing countries will marry before the age of 18. The younger the girl, the more harmful the consequences: I have seen girls as young as eight being married off to men decades older than them. The impact of sexual activity on children who are too young can be catastrophic. Children having children continues to be a common phenomenon across the developing world, with deaths caused by early pregnancy and birth complications the biggest cause of mortality for girls aged 15-19. Beyond the physical harm they face, is the complete loss of childhood. Children who marry do not play with their friends, are often not attending school, do not have access to opportunities for their future, and are confined within roles which bring responsibilities that they did not choose and often do not understand. This report unravels the links between fragility and early marriage. By showing how marriage is used as a perceived means of 'protection' for girls, this report is a unique contribution to the evidence base of factors driving early marriage prevalence. Revealing the complex causes of this harmful practice, World Vision also identifies key actions that can be taken, both globally and by the UK Government, to reduce the stress on communities and provide families with alternative, effective means of really protecting their daughters. Details: Fox Mine, Milton Keynes, UK: World Vision UK, 2013. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 25, 2014 at: http://www.worldvision.org/resources.nsf/main/press-reports/$file/untying-the-knot_report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.worldvision.org/resources.nsf/main/press-reports/$file/untying-the-knot_report.pdf Shelf Number: 133420 Keywords: Child MarriageChild ProtectionForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceSexual Violence |
Author: Gabriele, Felicia Title: The Incidence of Human Trafficking in Ontario: Ontario Coalition Research Initiative Summary: "The findings in this report reveal that the province of Ontario urgently needs to invest in system changes, revise its child welfare legislation, fund shelters, develop a province-wide action plan, and a provincial task force to take a proactive approach to combatting human trafficking," said AAMS president, Karlee Sapoznik. Among its important highlights, the Alliance Against Modern Slavery Ontario Coalition Research Report on The Incidence of Human Trafficking in Ontario reveals that: approximately 62.9% of victims trafficked to, through, within or from Ontario were Canadian citizens, 90% of these individuals were female, 63% of trafficked persons were between the ages of 15-24, and the most common age of trafficked persons was 17 years old at 18%. The majority of individuals were recruited through a personal contact (84.6%). Within Ontario, the General Toronto Area (GTA) was the most common destination site for human trafficking. The city of Toronto was also a significant transit point, acting as a hub for a number of human trafficking routes. Within Canada, individuals were trafficked to Ontario from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Individuals trafficked to Ontario from foreign countries were trafficked from: Afghanistan, Antigua, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, the United States, Ukraine, and Vietnam. From Ontario individuals were trafficked to the provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec, and to the countries of Afghanistan, England and the United States. 96.5% of victims experienced some or multiple forms of violence. Overall, males were predominately trafficked for the purpose of forced labour. Significantly, females were more likely than males to be trafficked in every category of trafficking reported. Out of those who were trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation (68.5%), one (0.7%) was male and 67.8% were female. Out of those who were trafficked for the purpose of forced labour (24.5%), 8.4% were male and 16.1% were female. Out of those trafficked for the purpose of a forced marriage (7.7%), all 7.7% were female. Additionally, out of those trafficked for the purpose of petty crime (6.3%), all 6.3% were female. In almost half of the cases (49.7%), individuals spent from less than 1 year up to 2 years in slavery. The four biggest challenges that organizations faced when assisting victims of trafficking were: Organizational funding/financial resources (46.9%), lack of housing (46.2%), providing financial support to the victim (42.7%), and finding counselling for the victim (37.1%). Other problems identified included providing medical support (21%), finding legal support (14.7%), the lack of proper risk assessments (13.3%), obtaining police support (12.6%), regressive immigration policies (11.2%), accessing Federal Government assistance (5.6%), and a lack of understanding from children's aid services (2.8%). Alarmingly, in 24.5% of cases, it was not known if follow-up attempts with the trafficked person had taken place. Out of the 2.1% of victims that pursued a civil claim in civil court, only one received a financial settlement. Details: Toronto: Alliance Against Modern Slavery: Ontario Coalition Research Initiative, 2014. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2014 at: http://www.allianceagainstmodernslavery.org/sites/default/files/AAMS-ResearchData.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.allianceagainstmodernslavery.org/sites/default/files/AAMS-ResearchData.pdf Shelf Number: 133829 Keywords: Forced LaborForced MarriageHuman Sexual ExploitationHuman Trafficking (Ontario, Canada) |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: No Way Out: Child Marriage and Human Rights Abuses in Tanzania Summary: Four out of every 10 girls in Tanzania marry before they reach age 18. Some are as young as 7. Child marriage in Tanzania is driven by poverty and the payment of dowry, child labor, adolescent pregnancy, child abuse and neglect, as well as limited access to education and employment opportunities for women and girls. No Way Out: Child Marriage and Human Rights Abuses in Tanzania, is based on in-depth interviews with 135 girls and women in Tanzania. The report documents the detrimental impact of child marriage including the impact on girls' education, the increased exposure to sexual and reproductive health risks, and domestic violence by husbands and extended family members. It also shows how child labor and female genital mutilation are pathways to child marriage. Tanzania lacks a uniform minimum marriage age of 18 for both boys and girls. Gaps in the child protection system, the lack of protection for victims of child marriage, and the many obstacles girls and women face in obtaining redress compel them to endure the devastating and long-lasting consequences of child marriage. Human Rights Watch calls on the Tanzanian government to enact legislation setting 18 as a minimum marriage age and to take immediate measures to protect girls and women from child marriage and other forms of violence to ensure the fulfillment of their human rights, in accordance with Tanzania's international legal obligations. Details: New York: HRW, 2014. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/tanzania1014_forinsert_ForUpload.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Tanzania URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/tanzania1014_forinsert_ForUpload.pdf Shelf Number: 133882 Keywords: Child Marriage (Tanzania)Child ProtectionDomestic ViolenceForced MarriageHuman Rights Abuses |
Author: Horvath, Miranda Title: "It's a lonely journey": A rapid assessment on intrafamilial child sexual abuse Summary: A report into child sexual abuse in the family environment published today reveals alarming gaps in knowledge about its prevalence, effects, and how best to prevent it. Concern about the findings has led the Deputy Children's Commissioner for England to use the Children's Commissioner's legislative powers to today launch a national inquiry into this troubling form of child sexual abuse. The report, "It's a lonely journey" A Rapid Evidence Assessment on Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse is based on an examination of 57,226 research studies into child sexual abuse commissioned by the Office of the Children's Commissioner from Middlesex University. It found glaring omissions in what is known about child sexual abuse in family environments. This includes an almost complete lack of research directly looking into children and young people's experiences of what would help to prevent it or to support those who have been abused. The report highlights a particular lack of knowledge about the experiences of disabled children and those from minority ethnic groups. It also finds that most services to support people who have experienced child sexual abuse within a family context are targeted at adult survivors rather than children. Worryingly, little is known about the prevalence of long-term psychological and physical harm caused by sexual abuse in family environments and almost nothing about the economic cost this places on society. The Office of the Children's Commissioner's two-year national Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse In The Family Environment will seek to determine how widespread it is, what must be done to support the victims, and how it can best be prevented. The Inquiry will investigate children's experiences of this type of sexual abuse and make recommendations on how services should respond. It will examine evidence of what works well to prevent it from occurring, as well as how children who have experienced it should be helped. The forced marriage of children will fall within the scope of the Inquiry as this invariably leads to child sexual abuse. Details: London: Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2014. 152p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2015 at: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13688/ Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: v Shelf Number: 134655 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual Abuse (U.K.)Forced Marriage |
Author: Warner, Ann Title: More Power to Her: How Empowering Girls Can Help End Child Marriage Summary: The International Center for Research on Women's report, "More Power to Her: How Empowering Girls Can Help End Child Marriage", shows how and why investing in girls is critical to the global movement to end child marriage. The practice, which cuts across global cultures and religions, turns more than 14 million girls worldwide into child brides every year, violating their basic human rights - and hindering larger international development efforts. ICRW has been at the forefront of exposing the harms caused by child marriage, and identifying solutions to prevent it, for more than 15 years. In 2011, ICRW identified five promising strategies to prevent child marriage. With this latest study, ICRW set out to discover how programs in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia and India are working to empower both girls at-risk of child marriage as well as already married girls, and how empowerment leads to changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices. Based on four case studies - programs run by CARE (Ethiopia), BRAC (Bangladesh), Save the Children (Egypt) and Pathfinder International (India) - ICRW's findings show that girl-focused programs expand girls' ability to make strategic life choices by providing them with access to critical resources. The information, skills and social support that they gain help to instill a transformation within girls: increasing their self-awareness, their self-efficacy and their aspirations. They also introduce girls to alternatives to marriage, such as school and livelihood opportunities, and enhance their ability to influence key 'gatekeepers' in their lives, such as parents, husbands or community leaders Details: Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women, 2014. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2015 at: http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/More%20Power%20pages%20Web.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/More%20Power%20pages%20Web.pdf Shelf Number: 135497 Keywords: Child MarriageChild ProtectionForced Marriage |
Author: Rosemount Good Shepherd Title: Forced & Servile Marriage Casebook: Beyond the stereotypes Summary: The advent of legislation criminalising forced marriage and a range of related conduct has brought forward a debate, in Australia and elsewhere, about an individual's effective rights in relation to fully and freely consenting to marriage, and to live free of slavery in the form of servile marriage (wherein a person is treated as property and bought, sold or inherited into marriage). This debate has also illuminated a range of very pragmatic questions on the nature of "marriage" across cultural, ethnic, religious, national and other boundaries. As has also been found in other countries, experience to date in Australia highlights many commonly-asked questions such as: 1. Does "forced marriage" include circumstances where a "marriage" ceremony was performed by someone other than a registered marriage celebrant? 2. What about when the person is made to live with their "partner" and/or the other family before a (legal) marriage takes place? 3. What if the person was "married" in another country before reaching the legal age for marriage in that other country? 4. Is it really a marriage if they were "married" as a child but the marriage was not consummated? 5. What if the ceremony was conducted in a language that the person does not understand, or understands only in a very limited way? The fact is that any or all of these situations could involve the risk or reality of forced marriage, and/or servile marriage depending on the exact circumstances. Aim of the Casebook Seeing education as a crucial part of advocating for positive social change, this casebook is intended to be a resource for those who may encounter the risk or reality of forced and/or servile marriage in their work. For example, this could include circumstances in which a teacher observes that a student may be at risk, or where a case worker assesses that a client's circumstances involve the risk or reality of forced and/or servile marriage or a similar marriage like relationship. By aiding understanding of the variety of forms that these practices can take, and the great diversity of contexts in which they may occur, the aim of the casebook is to support early intervention and/or prevention and thus ameliorate the harm done to those facing forced and/or servile marriage. Details: Marrickville, NSW, AUS: Rosemount Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services, 2015. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2015 at: http://rosemountgs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Forced-Servile-Marriage-Casebook-April-2014.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://rosemountgs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Forced-Servile-Marriage-Casebook-April-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 136860 Keywords: Child MarriageForced Marriage |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: The Depths of Dishonour: Hidden Voices and Shameful Crimes. An inspection of the police response to honour-based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation Summary: This is the first time that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has inspected and reported upon the police service's response to crimes of honour-based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Further, it is the first time that any inspectorate within England and Wales has examined the service provided to victims2 of these crimes, actual and potential, supported by the most powerful of insights, from victims themselves. It is one of the most important reports ever produced by HMIC. Crimes committed in the name of so-called honour are despicable and damaging; they may be life-changing or life-threatening; in some cases, they end in death. Forced marriage is a specific crime that is equally serious, equally damaging. Female genital mutilation is not a requirement for any religion but it is a practice that reaches across numerous cultures to ruin the lives of many women and girls. This report provides information and analysis for the public about how police forces respond to, investigate, and protect victims of these appalling and damaging crimes. It provides a baseline on which police and other public sector agencies can build to establish effective responses to victims. It should also focus the minds of those organisations to work together to prevent others from becoming victims in future. Details: London: HMIC, 2015. 191p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/the-depths-of-dishonour.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/the-depths-of-dishonour.pdf Shelf Number: 137804 Keywords: Female CuttingFemale Genital MutilationForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceHonor-Based ViolencePolice Policies and ProceduresPolice-Community PartnershipsViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Policy Department C Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Title: Forced Marriage from a Gender Perspective Summary: This study provides an overview of the practice of forced marriage in the EU from a gender equality and women's rights perspective. It analyses the definitions of forced marriage and puts forward a definition from a gender perspective. It also provides an overview of the relevant international/EU legislation, policies and deliberations, as well as national policies, civil law and criminal law (in the 12 Member State that criminalise forced marriage). For those Member States that criminalise forced marriage, the study provides an assessment of the effectiveness and possible consequences of the implementation of the criminal legislation, including an analysis of data and case-law. The study includes a specific chapter focusing on forced marriage within Roma communities and five case-studies specifically focusing on Denmark, Germany, Spain, Slovakia and the UK. The study also puts forward recommendations for improving the response to forced marriage at EU and Member State level. Details: Luxembourg: European Parliament, 2016. 241p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 25, 2016 at: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2016/feb/ep-study-forced-marriages.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2016/feb/ep-study-forced-marriages.pdf Shelf Number: 137962 Keywords: Forced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Rights of Women Title: Creating a Clear Pathway for Practice: Working Towards more Effective Responses to Survivors of Forced Marriage Summary: This report documents the findings of a series of events held in Cardiff, London, Manchester and Sheffield by Imkaan and Rights of Women to reflect on local and regional responses to forced marriage in 2015. This project follows our previous analysis of legal and support responses to forced marriage reported in "This is not my destiny". Reflecting on responses to forced marriage in England and Wales (Imkaan and Rights of Women 2014). Our key learnings from these events were as follows:- Sector engagement The events attracted a range of agencies across different sectors. The types of agencies most likely to attend included violence against women and girls (VAWG) organisations and refuge providers, both mainstream and BME-led (n=20; 19 %), representatives from the criminal justice system (CJS) (n=15 at 14%) and local authorities (n=14 at 13%). Overall, there were lower rates of attendance from statutory health services and a notable absence of the education sector across all of the events. The lack of educational input, aside from an Ambassadors' network of teachers in London, was further highlighted in the workshop feedback where a number of participants identified the important role of schools and other educational institutions in crisis-based interventions, early intervention, and prevention. Challenges and barriers a) Internal: Internal organisational factors emerged in relation to development and internal management of work on forced marriage, e.g. managing priorities and workload; lack of critical reflection and supervision; failure to locate responsibility for the work with a senior enough manager or lead. Gaps in and lack of consistent partnership working were also identified as a barrier to good practice. b) Knowledge: Access to practice-based knowledge to improve current responses was raised. For example, some participants admitted not knowing what to ask victim/survivors, whom to refer them to, feeling unclear about the specific roles and responsibilities of different agencies, and to having a lack of trained staff. A lack of clarity around what 'consent' means in the context of forced marriage was also flagged up as an area where professionals would benefit from further advice or support. c) Interaction with women and girls: Organisational contact with women can still too often result in poor and inconsistent treatment of women and girls, with a number of organisations raising concerns about racism, discrimination, questioning the authenticity of young womens' accounts and experiences. d) Funding and resources: There were specific concerns about the lack of investment in and availability of frontline specialist support services across the country to address both the short and longer-term needs of women and girls, e.g. refuge provision, outreach, advocacy and support with access to housing and education. e) Under-use of current criminal offences: There were a number of concerns about the under-utilisation of the range of potential existing criminal offences, such as offences under the Protection of Harassment Act 1997. This was linked to a concern that whilst forced marriage is recognised as part of a continuum of violence against women and girls which covers a range of existing criminal offences this did not always result in action being taken by the police. This is a well-known problem for the police dealing with calls or reports of domestic violence. In addition to the new criminal offences there are a range of other offences often committed in forcing someone to marry. Participants raised concerns about the complexity of the new legislation, and the evidential difficulties for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in securing a conviction, an adverse consequence of this being that some parents felt more confident about coercing women into marriage, without the fear of punishment. f) Deterrence in reporting due to the new criminal offences on forced marriage: Police officers and BME women's organisations shared their concerns about some women 'going off the radar', following initial contact with the Police. It was raised that in situations where the police had (correctly) advised women about potential prosecution of parents via the new criminal offence1 (prosecutions which could possibly proceed without her consent), women and girls had disengaged with the police officer providing support. This was often as a consequence of women's fears about the potential repercussions and feelings of conflict that inevitably arise in connection with the prosecution of close and loved family members. This highlights a serious issue around the nature of reporting and the negative repercussions of criminalisation which requires urgent consideration, as it can result in vulnerable women not accessing appropriate support and returning to situations of violence. g) Cultural assumptions/stereotypes: A number of participants described 'culture' as a challenge in their practice when thinking about the barriers to responding to forced marriage. Whilst there were some encouraging discussions to illustrate that survivors do not necessarily fall into any 'typical community' there is an on-going tendency to frame forced marriage as a problem of 'culture', and as a phenomenon which only impacts on particular Black and minority ethnic groups, i.e. specific groups within South Asian communities which can and does lead to racist/ discriminatory practice. Whilst forced marriage can have a disproportionate impact on some groups, forced marriage is more appropriately placed and dealt with by placing it on the continuum of VAWG, which highlights the interconnections with other forms of abuse that are likely to co-exist in the same family environment. In this way, professionals would be more alert to potential vulnerabilities and support needs of women and girls. A number also felt that preconceived stereotypes about 'culture' and 'community' also prevent the development of wider, more effective and inclusive strategies of community engagement. Details: London: Rights of Women, 2016. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2016 at: http://rightsofwomen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Creating-a-clear-pathway-for-practice.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://rightsofwomen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Creating-a-clear-pathway-for-practice.pdf Shelf Number: 138158 Keywords: Forced MarriageViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Great Britain. Crown Prosecution Service Title: Violence against Women and Girls: Crime Report, 2013-2014 Summary: This report is an analysis of the key prosecution issues in each Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strand - domestic violence (DV), rape, sexual offences, stalking, harassment, forced marriage, honour based violence, female genital mutilation, child abuse, human trafficking, prostitution and pornography. We recognise that most of these offences are targeted at male victims as well as female victims. A number of case studies are used to illustrate some good practice from Areas. Details: London: Crown Prosecution Services, 2014. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2016 at: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 147889 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCrime StatisticsDomestic ViolenceForced MarriageHonour-Based ViolenceHuman TraffickingPornographyProstitutionSex OffensesViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Swegman, Casey Title: The Intersectionality of Forced Marriage with Other Forms of Abuse in the United States Summary: In the United States, forced marriage can impact individuals of any gender, age, socio-economic status, ethnic or religious background. In a 2011 survey, service providers in the U.S. (primarily legal and social services agencies in the domestic violence and sexual assault field but also including law enforcement, school and university staff, counselors, and other legal professionals) reported encountering as many as 3,000 known or suspected cases of forced marriage over a period of just two years (Tahirih Justice Center, 2011). Details: Harrisburg, PA : VAWnet, a project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 2016. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Applied Research: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AR_ForcedMarriage.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AR_ForcedMarriage.pdf Shelf Number: 144844 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceSexual AssaultViolence against Women, Girls |
Author: United Nations Action for Cooperation against Trafficking in Persons Title: A Study of Forced Marriage between Cambodia and China Summary: This report examines patterns of forced marriage in the context of broader migratory flows between Cambodia and China. It primarily draws on the accounts of 42 Cambodian women who experienced conditions of forced marriage, with interviews having taken place in both countries. Key informants from government and non-government stakeholders in Cambodia and China were consulted as well. The objective has been to analyze recruitment, brokering, transportation and exploitation patterns as well as the links between these; to determine service needs amongst Cambodians trafficked to China for forced marriage, in China, during the repatriation process and upon return to Cambodia; as well as to identify opportunities for interventions to prevent forced marriages from occurring and to extend protective services to those in need, at both policy and programming levels. The phenomenon of forced marriage has received increasing recognition and attention in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, initially from Myanmar and Viet Nam into China and within China itself, but lately also from countries further afield especially Cambodia. In Cambodia, the lack of employment opportunities and low wages, amongst other factors, are leaving young people with few alternatives but to seek work outside their home country. Cambodian women have especially limited educational and job prospects whilst at the same time facing high pressures to contribute financially to their families. Given restrictive labor migration policies especially in low-skill sectors in the region, marriage migration to improve economic conditions has become a viable alternative. China is confronted with an unusually high gender imbalance derived primarily from more than 30 years of one-child policy coupled with gender selection due to son preference. The latter is linked to Chinese traditions that see the sons carry on the families’ lineage over generations as well as care for their aging parents, together with their wives that join the husbands’ families. In this environment, particularly the economically disadvantaged rural men in China look to women from other countries like Cambodia, Myanmar or Viet Nam. Both countries, however, prohibit international marriage broker services, meaning marriage migration is often facilitated by agents cooperating across borders without licenses and oversight. Whilst anecdotal evidence suggests that some, perhaps even many, of the Cambodian women living in arranged marriages in China are content in their situations, this study outlines the possible downsides of engagements brought about in non-regulated manners Details: Bangkok: UNDP, 2016. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2016 at: http://un-act.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Final_UN-ACT_Forced_Marriage_Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://un-act.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Final_UN-ACT_Forced_Marriage_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 146253 Keywords: Forced MarriageHuman TraffickingViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Great Britain. Crown Prosecution Service Title: Violence against Women and Girls: Crime Report, 2015-16 Summary: The Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) report is the ninth edition published by the CPS. It provides an assessment of prosecution performance on crimes that have been grouped together under the heading ‘VAWG’, as they have been identified as being committed primarily, but not exclusively, by men against women. The CPS addresses these issues within the overarching crossgovernment strategic framework of VAWG, recognising that victims of this group of crimes are disproportionally female. The approach acknowledges VAWG as a fundamental issue of human rights and women’s rights. The UK government has signed and ratified the United Nations call to all states to prevent and respond to violence against women. VAWG is recognised worldwide, and by the UK Government, as a form of offending where gender plays a part. As the United Nations2 describes it: ‘Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and … violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men’. The CPS is committed to securing justice for all victims of crimes grouped together as ‘VAWG’. To that end, we are inclusive in our approach. All our VAWG policies are applied fairly and equitably to all perpetrators and victims of crime – irrespective of their gender. Recognising that these offences can be targeted at male and transgender victims as well as female victims, the report includes total data on all perpetrators and victims, irrespective of gender. Where possible, data is broken down, in the body of the report, by gender as well as overall volumes and proportions. The report is an analysis of the key prosecution issues in each VAWG strand – domestic abuse (DA), stalking, harassment, rape, sexual offences, forced marriage, honour based violence, female genital mutilation, child abuse, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, prostitution and pornography. The data that forms the basis of the report is derived from the CPS’ Case Management System (CMS) and its associated Management Information System (MIS) which shows the number of defendants, offences and victims or witnesses. Domestic abuse, rape, forced marriage, honour-based violence, child abuse and human trafficking cases are identified by flags applied to defendants. Stalking, harassment, sexual offences, prostitution, pornography and obscenity data can only be provided using the offences data base. Details: London: CPS, 2016. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 146121 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Crime StatisticsDomestic Violence Forced Marriage Honour-Based Violence Human Trafficking Pornography Prostitution Sex Offenses Violence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW Title: Inquiry into the exploitation of people through trafficking, in all its forms in NSW Summary: The key findings from the Inquiry into the exploitation of people through trafficking, in all its forms are that NSW needs to develop its own policy and service response, in line with a human rights framework, work with the Commonwealth and contribute to the development of Commonwealth and State coordinated efforts. Australia is a destination country for human trafficking (IDC 2012). However, the Inquiry notes that exploitation can occur before a trafficked person leaves their home country, in transit, at the point of arrival in Australia (or any other country), in the early days of migration settlement or at any time post-arrival, especially when individuals experience financial, social or psychological difficulties. Additionally, the Inquiry observes that slavery and slavery-like practices such as forced labour and forced marriage are conditions of exploitation where immigration or citizenship status may be irrelevant. The Inquiry notes that elements of complex migration processes or crimes are often misunderstood. For example, a survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology in 2009 confirmed that the general public frequently confuses people trafficking with people smuggling, by placing undue emphasis on the journey rather than the exploitative elements of human trafficking and slavery (AIC 2009). In 2011-12, the (then) Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) referred 31 reports of possible people trafficking, involving 26 possible victims, to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for assessment. The suspected victims had entered Australia on a variety of visa types, including tourist, student and sports visas and some held electronic visas. Some visas had expired by the time their holders were located, making them unlawful over-stayers, while the immigration status of others remained lawful (IDC 2012). Through its call for submissions and public consultations, the Inquiry Committee found differences in perception about where the government and the community should focus their attention, and the level of emphasis and prioritisation on the different forms of human trafficking and slavery. The focus of the media is typically on exploitation of women in the sex industry, in particular Asian women migrants working in brothels. In contrast, the Inquiry heard from community groups and service providers that exploitation more frequently occurs in family homes and businesses. Seeking help can be fraught with complexity for the trafficked and enslaved person. A lack of knowledge of Australian law and the legal system, of what constitutes exploitation and of the support services available, may be barriers to seeking and accessing help. A sense of duty to their spouse and family, shame, the fear of reprisal, fear of deportation and of government officials, loss of livelihood, language and cultural differences, and may also stop a trafficked or enslaved person from seeking help. The Inquiry has identified a number of areas for attention from the NSW Government along the whole spectrum of issues, from education, prevention, service delivery, investigation and enforcement. Key findings and Recommendations The results of the Inquiry are grouped into five key findings: 1. Strengthen the NSW response 2. Undertake legal and policy reform 3. Improve outcomes for trafficked people 4. Enhance knowledge and awareness 5. The need for more research. Details: Sydney: The Commission, 2013. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2017 at: multicultural.nsw.gov.au Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: multicultural.nsw.gov.au Shelf Number: 144797 Keywords: Forced Labor Forced MarriageHuman Trafficking Modern Slavery |
Author: McGuire, Magdalena Title: The Right to Refuse: Examining Forced Marriage in Australia Summary: This project drew on The Right to Refuse forum (a cross-sectoral forum on forced marriage which was held by the research partners) and the literature to devise some key findings about forced marriage. These findings are that: h- Forced marriage is primarily a human rights and gender equality issue, not a cultural issue. Having said this, any interventions around forced marriage need to be approached with cultural sensitivity. h- Forced marriage is a form of violence against women and girls. It can lead to a range of negative consequences for victims, including physical, sexual, and psychological violence, economic abuse, denial of education, social isolation, and mental health problems.1 h- Forced marriage and arranged marriage are two distinct practices. While forced marriage is unlawful and harmful, arranged marriage is an acceptable practice (to the extent that it allows potential partners to consent to the marriage). Currently, there is little awareness in the community about the difference between forced marriage and arranged marriage. h- Little is known about the prevalence and manifestation of forced marriage in Australia. Nonetheless, it is clear that forced marriage happens to a diverse range of women and girls in the Australian community. Young women and women with cognitive impairments can be particularly at risk of experiencing forced marriage. h- School personnel, especially school welfare officers, are in a key position to identify potential cases of forced marriage involving girls and young women. h- Forced marriage cases are complex and cross over multiple service sectors. It is rare for victims of forced marriage to present with only one problem for which they require assistance. h- Many women and girls who have experienced forced marriage will require the assistance of domestic violence support services. Domestic violence services can be the first place where forced marriage is identified and responded to. h- Women and girls who have experienced forced marriage can be reluctant to engage with services. A key way to address this barrier is to establish a relationship of trust between the victim of forced marriage and a worker within the relevant service. h- A challenge for support workers is striking an appropriate balance between establishing trust with the victim of forced marriage and maintaining their own professional boundaries. This is because women and girls who have exited situations of forced marriage tend to be very socially isolated. Under these circumstances, they may come to regard their workers as the most important people in their lives. h- Women and girls who have experienced forced marriage may require years of intense support to help them live safe and productive lives Details: Melbourne: Good Shepherd Youth & Family Services, Domestic Violence Victoria, 2014. 99p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2017 at: https://www.goodshep.org.au/media/1222/right-to-refuse_final-report_v2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: https://www.goodshep.org.au/media/1222/right-to-refuse_final-report_v2.pdf Shelf Number: 145333 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Australia. Parliament. Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Title: Modern slavery and global supply chains. Interim report Summary: With reference to the United Kingdom's Modern Slavery Act 2015 and to relevant findings from the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's report, Trading Lives: Modern Day Human Trafficking, the Committee shall examine whether Australia should adopt a comparable Modern Slavery Act. The Committee shall have particular regard to: 1 The nature and extent of modern slavery (including slavery, forced labour and wage exploitation, involuntary servitude, debt bondage, human trafficking, forced marriage and other slavery-like exploitation) both in Australia and globally; 2 The prevalence of modern slavery in the domestic and global supply chains of companies, businesses and organisations operating in Australia; 3 Identifying international best practice employed by governments, companies, businesses and organisations to prevent modern slavery in domestic and global supply chains, with a view to strengthening Australian legislation; 4 The implications for Australia's visa regime, and conformity with the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children regarding federal compensation for victims of modern slavery; 5 Provisions in the United Kingdom's legislation which have proven effective in addressing modern slavery, and whether similar or improved measures should be introduced in Australia; 6 Whether a Modern Slavery Act should be introduced in Australia; and 7 Any other related matters. Details: Canberra: The Committee, 2017. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2017 at: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/024092/toc_pdf/Modernslaveryandglobalsupplychains.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/024092/toc_pdf/Modernslaveryandglobalsupplychains.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf Shelf Number: 147004 Keywords: Debt BondageDomestic WorkersForced LaborForced MarriageHuman TraffickingModern SlaverySupply ChaingsWage Exploitation |
Author: Bigio, Jamille Title: Countering Sexual Violence in Conflict Summary: The victims of today's armed conflicts are more likely to be civilians than soldiers. Armies and armed groups often subject noncombatants-particularly women and children-to conflict-related sexual violence, such as rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage. Despite international recognition of this devastating abuse as a crime against humanity, sexual violence continues to plague conflicts from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Syria. This practice has also proliferated among extremist groups, including Boko Haram in Nigeria and the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, sexual violence has tarnished the operations of peacekeepers charged with protecting civilians, thereby undermining the integrity and effectiveness of international peacekeeping institutions across the globe. Sexual violence in conflict is not simply a gross violation of human rights-it is also a security challenge. Such violence has consequences that increase the costs of armed conflict, rendering its management more difficult. Wartime rape fuels displacement, weakens governance, and destabilizes communities, thereby inhibiting postconflict reconciliation and imperiling long-term stability. When committed by troops, it can represent a lack of discipline associated with weak command and control, which makes military units less effective in advancing their mission. Yet current security-sector efforts to address sexual violence in conflict are inadequate, plagued by insufficient training for peacekeepers, limited accountability through national and international judicial systems, and resource gaps. Combating conflict-related sexual violence merits a higher place on the U.S. foreign policy agenda. Although the U.S. government has taken modest steps to address sexual violence in conflict under successive Republican and Democratic administrations, more action is needed. To counter such violence, the Donald J. Trump administration should require training on conflict-related sexual violence in U.S. security cooperation efforts; expand the number of women serving in militaries, police, and peacekeeping forces around the world; increase accountability for the crime of sexual violence; and undermine terrorist financing streams raised through the abduction of women and children. These steps will help the United States and its allies respond effectively to the security threat posed by conflict-related sexual violence and advance U.S. interests in peace and stability Details: New York: Council on Foreign Relations, 2017. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2017 at: https://www.cfr.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/Discussion_Paper_Bigio_Vogelstein_Sexual_Violence_Conflict_OR_1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 148912 Keywords: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Forced MarriageRape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women |
Author: SafeLives Title: Your Choice: 'honour'-based violence, forced marriage and domestic abuse Summary: Our fourth Spotlight report focuses on domestic abuse victims and survivors who are at risk of so called 'honour'-based violence, including forced marriage. Throughout this report we will refer to this type of abuse using the acronym HBV, though this in no way indicates any actual sense of honour being conferred on this type of activity by SafeLives or by contributors to this report. The numbers The prevalence of 'honour'-based violence (HBV) is extensive in the UK and around the world, but the true scale of the problem is unknown. In 2014 a Freedom of Information request to UK police forces revealed that over 11,000 cases of so-called 'honour' crime were recorded between 2010-141 . Forced Marriage is a significant part of the abuse for many victims of HBV, with the Government's Forced Marriage Unit supporting over 1,400 cases in 20162 . Many more crimes are never reported, with numerous barriers preventing victims from coming forward. For instance, reporting the abuse may trigger further HBV, and can lead to isolation from family and communities. The context 'Honour'-based violence is in evidence across countries, cultures and religions. Circumstances which may lead to the abuse are wide ranging and not culturally specific. It is important to remember that, despite the use of this label, there can be no 'honour' in abuse, and where culture or tradition are used to exert power or control over others, this can only be a misuse of that culture. HBV affects people of all ages, but often begins early, in the family home. This can lead to a deeply embedded form of coercive control, built on expectations about behaviour that are made clear at a young age. Often the control is established without obvious violence against the victim, for instance through family members threatening to kill themselves because of the victim's behaviour. Women are particularly at risk of 'honour'-based violence, and as such it is important to recognise this form of abuse within the wider context of violence perpetrated against women and girls, resulting from an underlying denial of their human rights. Data from the Crown Prosecution Service on cases flagged as 'honour'-based violence reveals that (where gender was recorded) 76% of victims were female3 . Many contributors to our Spotlight highlighted the links between HBV and patriarchy, with women being tasked with carrying the 'honour' of their fathers, their husbands and their sons. Despite the strong evidence of disproportionate effect on women and girls, 'honour'-based violence is experienced by both men and women, with factors such as sexuality and disability putting some men at particular risk. As we will explore, perpetration of this type of abuse is also a complex picture. Details: Bristol, UK: SafeLives, 2017. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Spotlight Report #Hidden Victims: Accessed February 12, 2018 at: http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Spotlight%20on%20HBV%20and%20forced%20marriage-web.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Spotlight%20on%20HBV%20and%20forced%20marriage-web.pdf Shelf Number: 149092 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceForced MarriageGender-Based ViolenceHonor-Based ViolenceViolence-Against Women |
Author: Bendriss, Naima Title: Report on the Practice of Forced marriage in Canada: Interviews with Frontline Workers. Exploratory Research Conducted in Montreal and Toronto in 2008 Summary: This report follows an annotated bibliography conducted to begin to understand the phenomenon of forced marriage in Canada, the extent, the issues and context, the causes and consequences, and the means employed by frontline workers to help persons who are victims of such practices. To that end, this study was based on a qualitative survey of field workers who deal with this issue. It looked at two aspects: the situations of individuals faced with the prospect of a forced marriage, and the support provided by community workers. The first question is what is meant by forced marriage? The expression "forced marriage" refers to a marital union where one of the parties, and sometimes both, is forced to marry against their will. Such marriages are contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 16 of which provides that "[m]en and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses." Nonetheless, the practice of forced marriage persists in many societies and every year affects thousands of women, as well as men although in fewer numbers. It exists in Canadian society, but the extent is not yet known. This is why a first study on this subject was necessary. The goal of the survey that forms the basis of this report was to collect field data to begin to understand this practice, to study the form it takes, and its causes and consequences, to note the actions undertaken at the community intervention level to counter it, to identify some elements that can be used to develop policies, programs and preventive, educational and legislative measures, and finally . . . to pave the way for broader research on the subject. This qualitative study is strictly exploratory and is not based on any particular theoretical framework. It aims to answer the following questions: - What form does forced marriage take in Canada? - Are we looking at an actual social phenomenon, or rather isolated cases? - How do service providers perceive forced marriage? What distinction do they make between forced and arranged marriages? - What are the underlying causes of forced marriage? - What types of pressure are brought to bear on victims by their family and social circle? - How do persons threatened with a forced marriage deal with their family and social circle? - What type of assistance do service providers offer for people who are threatened with or who are victims of forced marriage? - What tools do service providers have to respond to these kinds of requests? - What role do service providers believe government institutions, civil society and educational institutions should play? - What recommendations are made by the service providers? Details: Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada, 2008. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2018 at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/fm-mf/fm_eng.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/fm-mf/fm_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 149266 Keywords: Forced MarriageViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Sharp-Jeffs, Nicola Title: A lot going on: the links between going missing, forced marriage and child sexual exploitation Summary: An extensive review of research and policy literature revealed that links are made between: going missing and forced marriage; going missing and child sexual exploitation; and forced marriage and child sexual exploitation. However, despite these overlaps, no links are made between all three issues. Given that some South Asian young women will run away from home in order to avoid being forced into marriage and that young people who run away or go missing from home are at risk of, or abused, through child sexual exploitation a research proposition was developed on the basis that a three way link was theoretically possible. A case study methodology was developed to test the research proposition. Eight cases were identified in which South Asian young people (under 18 years of age) had experienced some combination of all three issues. However, the pattern identified within the research proposition was not the 'final explanation'. Analysis of the research findings revealed that variation existed within the pattern proposed. Moreover, a second pattern was identified in which forced marriage emerged as a parental response to young people who were already being sexually exploited and going missing in this context. The patterns identified were confirmed through analysis of interviews undertaken with twelve subject experts (key informants) and resonated with a specifically selected group of nine young people who were presented with a composite case study during focus group discussion. I argue that awareness of patterns linking all three issues will help practitioners to identify and respond appropriately to cases where the issues of going missing, forced marriage and child sexual exploitation overlap. That said the complexity of the cases highlighted risks associated with overlooking diversities: social divisions related to age, gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality and disability were explored to see how they shaped the young people's experiences. This process revealed that they were located within complex axes of power which then intersected with social systems, including family, community and public institutions. As a consequence, young people lacked relational support and had limited access to safe accommodation and economic resources. This resulted in some young people making attempts to try and self-manage the competing harms that they were facing. The practitioners who supported the young people highlighted the challenges involved in working with them. Analysis of practitioners' accounts further revealed how power dynamics within multi-agency working arrangements also impacted their efforts to respond to the needs of young people. Through testing the research proposition, I addressed a recognised need for more focused research into the issue of going missing as it relates to young people from different ethnic backgrounds (Berelowitz et al. 2012; Berelowitz et al., 2013; OCC, 2012; Patel, 1994; Safe on the Streets Research Team, 1999; Stein et al. 1994) as well as furthering knowledge about how child sexual exploitation is experienced by young people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities (Chase & Statham, 2004; CEOP, 2011b; Jago et al., 2011; Berelowitz et al., 2013; Thiara & Gill, 2010; Kelly, 2013; Ward & Patel, 2006). The development of a typology of patterns linking going missing, forced marriage and child sexual exploitation provides a unique contribution to the scholarly literature. Details: Luton, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2016. 324p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 21, 2018 at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82971362.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82971362.pdf Shelf Number: 150315 Keywords: Child MarriageChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationForced MarriageMissing Persons |
Author: Lyneham, Samantha Title: When saying no is not an option: Forced marriage in Australia and New Zealand Summary: As the world continues to develop better understandings of human trafficking and slavery in modern times, different manifestations of these practices are coming to light. Indeed, human trafficking and slavery continue to affect Australia and the Asia-Pacific region in more clandestine and insidious ways than might have been anticipated. This report addresses forced marriage, a slavery-like practice that has gained increasing attention in Australia and New Zealand since 2010 but has yet to form the focus of primary research that documents the experiences, decisions, views, and recommendations of victim/survivors and of the stakeholders that have engaged with them. The lack of data on the nature and context of forced marriage in Australia and New Zealand and on the potential consequences, both positive and negative, of criminalising this practice has resulted in insufficient evidence to support prevention and response mechanisms. This research therefore intends to provide policymakers, practitioners, and support providers with comprehensive knowledge about the problem as it affects both countries. Objectives and methodology The research had three primary objectives: - to explore perceptions and realities around forced marriage in Australia and New Zealand; - to describe the potential consequences of criminalising forced marriage; and - to review and identify where further policy development may be required to support the sectors and individuals impacted by this legislation. To address these objectives, thematic analyses of information derived from interviews with stakeholders (24 interviews with 38 participants), focus groups with stakeholders and community members (5 focus groups with 47 participants), interviews with victim/survivors (6 interviews with 7 participants) and victim/survivor case files (n=10) were conducted. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Research Reports no. 11: Accessed June 15, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/rr/rr11 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/rr/rr11 Shelf Number: 150552 Keywords: Forced MarriageViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Child, Early and Forced Marriage and Sexuality Programs Working Group Title: Tackling the Taboo: Sexuality and Gender Transformative Programmes to End Child Marriage Summary: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY The control and regulation of sexuality - in particular, the control of adolescent girls' sexuality - remains a critical and often unaddressed way in which gender inequality manifests across different cultural contexts. Virtually all communities place legal, religious, political or socio-economic restrictions on: - how sensuality, intimacy and pleasure are experienced - how people - in particular girls - express their sexuality, including sexual orientation and gender identities - how people engage in sexual and other intimate relationships - how they understand and ensure their own sexual and reproductive health - the exercise of sexual agency and bodily autonomy in general. For adolescent girls, these restrictions are exacerbated because age and gender are key dimensions of power inequalities, and girls usually lack access to power and are highly constrained in their ability to make decisions for themselves. Marriage, as a social, cultural and economic institution, also plays a key role in this control of girls' sexuality and bodily autonomy. Over the past few years, there has been a growing awareness that patriarchy and the control of sexuality matter in terms of understanding both the complex causes of and the diverse solutions to the practice of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM). Girls may struggle to develop a healthy view of their sexuality in the face of prevailing beliefs that deny their sexual desires and define female sexuality as passive and vulnerable. Girls' lives and mobility are under constant scrutiny, and any deviation from the dominant gender norms is severely penalised. The sexuality and mobility of married girls, too, is often highly restricted and limited to household activities and childbearing. The Child, Early and Forced Marriage and Sexuality Programs Working Group (CSPWG) commissioning this report acknowledges that sexuality is intrinsically linked with power dynamics and as such requires an understanding of different dimensions of inequality including age, class, caste, sexual orientation and gender identity and highlights the importance of challenging practices of CEFM with gender-transformative approaches (GTAs). The ultimate goal of this research is to identify promising gender-transformative programming that addresses sexuality and links with reducing CEFM, including by highlighting promising gender-transformative work taking place in politically and culturally conservative contexts. This research foregrounds successful empowerment approaches that consider the inequalities and harmful social norms that married and unmarried girls and young women disproportionately face, and focuses on and identifies initiatives that recognise and support girls' autonomy with skills, knowledge, and agency (including sexual agency). Working definition of gender-transformative programming Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs), seek 'to reshape gender relations to be more gender equitable, largely through approaches that free individuals across the gender spectrum from the impact of destructive gender and sexual norms'. Gender-transformative approaches encourage critical awareness of gender roles and norms; promote the position of girls and women; challenge the distribution of resources and allocation of duties between men and women; and/or address the power relationships between girls and women and others in the community, such as service providers or traditional leaders. The ultimate aim of GTA is to achieve gender equality, empowering women, girls and gender non-conforming young people, promoting health and eliminating violence. Gender-transformative approaches may require working at all levels of an ecological model (individual - family/ relationships - communities society etc.) and may be highly contextually specific. Research methodology -- The consultant team undertook extensive information-gathering and a detailed analysis of selected programmes and organisations to identify and understand promising programming and approaches with potential for replication. Through a highly iterative process with multiple phases, a review of 190 programmes was narrowed down to a pool of 26 using a set of parameters developed in consultation with the CSPWG and based on existing knowledge of what constitutes gender-transformative sexuality programming. The analysis of the 26 short-listed programmes surfaced promising approaches and positive outcomes linked to sexuality and CEFM. The project put special effort into uncovering lesser known and under-documented grassroots organisations, as well as paying attention to diversity, including context and geography among other factors. Nevertheless, a large number of organisations were excluded from the analysis due to lack of response or ability to provide documentation. FINDINGS -- Addressing the control of adolescent sexuality from a rights framework that includes issues like consent, choice, and pleasure is very challenging. Such efforts are often met with reluctance and resistance at all levels - from families, communities, schools, health service providers, community-based organisations, government officials, and policymakers. Issues around sexuality are widely considered to be taboo, and the extreme sensitivity around these issues is palpable. In particular, organisations working in highly conservative and religious settings tend to use other entry points to address sexuality (sports and formal education scholarships, for example), and some introduce the topic of sexuality through more general or indirect lenses (through health or hygiene). The review looked carefully at promising approaches that are making significant strides in achieving normative and legal change and positively impacting the lives of girls. While even well-articulated programmes that involved the parents and the communities experienced some form of backlash, it can be argued that this iterative and complex journey is already 'transformative' as it shakes the foundations upon which unequal gender norms are established. Below are some of the components of programmatic success found through this review. The full report and findings will be available later in 2018. - Grounding programmes in the contexts where they are implemented Formative research ahead of programme design and implementation is critical to understand the specific local drivers of CEFM (including gender norms) and the ways in which sexuality is generally conceived in a community. In addition, in-depth contextual analysis helps to gain community trust and develop tailored strategies. Hiring staff that know the values and practices of their community is also instrumental in building trust, gaining community buy-in, and driving change. This is especially important when addressing issues around sexuality, to minimise backlash against the language and approaches used during programme implementation. But it is important to note that, even with the involvement of communities, resistance and opposition are still very common. Interestingly, some organisations have found that this process of dealing with and responding to opposition can be part of the journey of transformation that leads to longer-term and more sustainable change. - Gender-sensitive, flexible, context-specific and relatable curricula The majority of organisations note that the language used in curricula should be given special attention to ensure that it is culturally appropriate, as well as relevant and relatable - using, for instance, current and site-specific case studies. Curricula, some argue, must be developed with a grassroots approach, starting with the girls and boys themselves and engaging them in the actual design and adaptation processes. Many organisations have their curricula and resource materials evaluated and pilot-tested before implementation, making any necessary revisions with the help of reviewers drawn from among the target girls themselves, and from civil society representatives, religious scholars, educators, subject experts, teachers, and parents. - Girls as agents of change and leaders: ownership, involvement, and training Young people need to be recognised as crucial partners in sexual and reproductive health interventions, and not treated merely as recipients or beneficiaries. Indeed, girls' ability to speak up for their own rights played a major part in the achievement of some of the organisations' results: once they asserted their own rights, it was generally easier for others, such as their parents, to support their decisions. However, as the YP Foundation points out, "young people don't just run on motivation and fresh air"; strong support networks are needed, as well as strategies that include connecting participants and graduates with further learning and development opportunities. Beyond training young people and strengthening their individual leadership skills, many organisations note that collectivising girls to take joint action has empowered them to voice their opinions and concerns at the community level and enabled them to collectively work out solutions to their problems. Once girls form a critical mass that is seen in public behaving according to new social norms, these new platforms can sustain other activities and efforts that benefit other women in their communities. - Community ownership: partnerships with parents and other gatekeepers Established networks and trust within communities are widely cited as indispensable assets in the implementation of activities that address sensitive issues. When working with adolescent girls, who seldom have a voice in the public sphere, it is critical to create an enabling community environment through community mobilisation and involvement. Consulting, engaging with and securing buy-in from religious leaders and religious scholars may be very important in informing and developing strategies of resilience to any backlash. Parents and adult community members are critical gatekeepers to changing the social institutions that support CEFM and hamper girls' bodily integrity and sexual agency. Securing their support from the outset can help reduce resistance and identify allies and partners. - Addressing gender norms and challenging stereotypes about femininity and masculinity by engaging men and boys as active agents of change for gender equality Challenging inequitable gender norms is at the core of successful gender-transformative programming and is a critical approach for achieving sexual and reproductive health rights and CEFM outcomes. Besides working with girls and women, most successful approaches not only involve, educate, and empower men and boys, but challenge them to understand and reject their privilege, toxic masculinities, and to hold other men and boys accountable. To achieve this, successful programmes tap into young men's interests, whether through a particular vehicle for intervention (e.g., sports), or through its content and messaging (e.g., tailored to incorporate key issues facing young men). - Careful selection, training, and ongoing support of teachers, mentors and facilitators based on clear, well-articulated, and fully agreed principles The attitudes and aptitudes of teachers, mentors, or facilitators around content areas such as sex and gender are key to the successful implementation of the programmes. The selection process should include assessment of a candidate's ability and willingness to teach the curriculum. For example, they must be fully accepting of different aspects of sexuality and should address any prejudices or discomfort they may have beforehand (e.g. with regard to homosexuality or sex before marriage). Before a programme starts, some organisations conduct "values clarification" exercises to ensure whoever is delivering the curriculum fully embraces feminist principles of equal and inalienable rights. While conducting gender-transformative training and "staff transformation" is embedded in the theory of change of a few organisations or programmes, the training and support of teachers, mentors, and facilitators remains a weak component of many organisations. Finally, to ensure consistent and appropriate messaging, it is necessary to regularly follow up with teachers, mentors, and facilitators. - Learning oriented program design, monitoring, and evaluation using evidence-based approaches A core set of learning and evaluation technical capacities were deemed essential to the sustained development, monitoring, and implementation of integrated programming over the long term. These capacities include sufficient monitoring and evaluation (M&E) experience, including participatory approaches; and the capacity to design, implement, and learn from gender-transformative programming. Learning focused M&E provides a basis for course-correction of existing programmes, including the design of additional programme elements that address any critical needs that may emerge. Investing in baseline research and other contextual analysis is also crucial to ensure that programming is clearly and appropriately fine-tuned to achieve results. Moreover, solid baselines are essential for project evaluation and can inform recruiting and retention techniques, as well as other areas of programme design. In some cases, robust evaluation results proved critical in making the case for scaling programmes up, or in ensuring that governments institutionalise programmes. - Ensuring sustainability and developing programmes on a long-term basis Achieving sustainability during and beyond programme implementation requires multi-pronged approaches and strategies that involve working with communities, government, and other stakeholders. Patriarchal gender norms and conceptions of sexuality are deeply rooted and normalised, making the process of ensuring sustainable change around gender and social norms (especially around sexuality) a complex one. Sustainable change requires patience, time, and continuity. Therefore, programmes should be long-term and with adequate resources to support them over time. RECOMMENDATIONS The forthcoming full review and findings will illustrate a substantial number of grassroots organisations working at the intersections of sexuality and CEFM, including some in highly restrictive settings. Based on the review, recommendations emerged for the broader field as well as programme implementers, funders, researchers, and advocates. A comprehensive conceptual framework is needed One critical recommendation emerging from the review is the need for a comprehensive conceptual framework for this type of work. The lack of a conceptual framework on the link between sexuality and CEFM or any agreed-upon measures of success may have negative implications for donors' willingness to fund sexuality work, which obstructs funding flows, dilutes the coherence and effectiveness of programme implementation, and hampers the adequate evaluation of results. It is important that a conceptual framework establishes common measurements and creates robust yet flexible definitions of success. Within CEFM work, it is important to prioritise indicators based on access to services and autonomous decision-making and quality of life in addition to age of marriage. Solely age-focused measures often ignore larger issues of gender inequality as well as issues of choice and consent about their lives and bodies. This conceptual framework should not only focus on the individuals but also seek to describe the ways in which communities and institutions determine and enforce social norms that govern sexuality for all persons, with particular attention to age and gender. Further discussion, research and guidance needed on criminalisation of adolescent sexuality Discussion, research and guidance is needed regarding the criminalisation of adolescent sexuality. Many organisations find themselves in the conundrum of how to respond to the intersections of control of girls' sexuality and CEFM in a way that respects girls' aspirations and desires while also recognising that social norms influence or restrict girls' choices in and outside of marriage. Recommendations for programme implementers 1. Empower girls to be advocates for themselves, create alternative pathways, and give young girls the skills needed to make changes in their lives possible. Programming should put gender-transformative work with girls at the centre. In order to reduce CEFM, it is imperative that programme implementers investigate and generate alternative choices and opportunities (for example advocating for additional years of schooling or income generating opportunities) so that girls and their families can refuse early marriage and not be at risk of sexual shaming, bullying, and physical attacks. Married and unmarried girls of all ages should be included in programming. It is critical to address issues of CEFM by examining the attitudes that underpin the perceived need to regulate girls' sexuality and push them into marriage. 2. Involve men and boys in programming. Work strategically and intentionally with boys and men to mutually reinforce and create a supportive environment for young girls to develop as autonomous individuals. Furthermore, working with boys from an early age is an important approach to challenge and change harmful norms regarding gender and sexuality. More creative approaches need to be developed to bring adult men in as partners for gender equality and to create opportunities. 3. Use an intergenerational approach. Empowering girls to better express their needs, wants and desires so that parents understand and value their daughters' aspirations is critical. Intergenerational approaches can create a more supportive environment within the home so that young people feel comfortable expressing themselves to parents. Intergenerational approaches may also enhance communities' understanding of the lived realities of married girls and women and allow for a broader understanding of how the institution of marriage can be used to limit girls' voices and choices. Approaches cannot focus only on prevention of early or forced marriage but must address the needs of already married girls. 4. Build partnerships with communities and governments to ensure sustainability during and beyond the programme. Sexuality is a relational phenomenon based in power structures and it cannot be addressed without involving individuals, families, communities and governments. Structural approaches that work at the different levels of the ecological model to decrease gender inequality and increased sexual autonomy are important to pursue. Without community-led approaches that bring together multiple stakeholders, programmes will not be successful in the medium or long term. A key aspect of building partnerships is developing trust and ensuring that information gathered is not only accurate but also created within a safe space. Additionally, there is a need to create messages that are appropriate across different levels and to be responsive to the differing needs of stakeholder groups. Doing so requires time, patience, negotiation skills and resources, all of which must be carefully planned for. 5. Mainstream gender-transformative approaches that include sexuality at all organisational levels. It is important that programmers are well-trained and feel comfortable discussing taboo issues. A critical part of the training should be "values clarification" and building meaningful girl engagement skills. Organisations working in this field need to build their internal capacity for gender-transformative programming and embed the practice of self-reflection on gender and sexuality within their organisations and their theories of change. 6. More specific gender-transformative work on sexuality that is inclusive of the most marginalised girls, including girls with disabilities or of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities is needed. The sexuality of people with disabilities - especially girls and young women - is widely overlooked by most programmes. Furthermore, work to encompass sexual orientation and gender identity should be further explored. Many programmes are gender-binary and only a few discuss or work to address these issues in detail. 7. Review all the additional key factors of success articulated in this report and study the feasibility of tailoring different approaches to different contexts, particularly mitigation strategies for backlash. For example, rigid processes and standardised project management procedures might not always be adequate when working on sexuality. It is advisable to include language in project proposals about the need for adaptive programming and high levels of flexibility (which might also have an impact on budgets), and incorporate well-articulated risk and mitigation strategies accordingly. Details: New York, NY: American Jewish World Service, 2018. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 14, 2019 at: https://ajws.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Tackling-the-Taboo.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.girlsnotbrides2018.org/what-does-gender-transformative-sexuality-programming-look-like-and-why-does-it-matter/ Shelf Number: 154155 Keywords: AdolescentsChild MarriageEvidence-Based ApproachesForced MarriageGender InequalityGender NormsGender-Transformative ApproachesViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Great Britain. HM Government Title: Ending Violence against Women and Girls: 2016-2020. Strategy Refresh Summary: In March 2016 we published our new VAWG Strategy, which sets out an ambitious programme of reform, and was supported by increased funding of L80m. In March 2017, the Chancellor announced additional funding of 20m pounds to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse, bringing the total committed to L100m, over twice what was committed during the previous Parliament. Our long-term vision remains the same, and so this Strategy is set out according to our existing strategic pillars: prevention, provision of services, partnership working, and pursuing perpetrators. The crimes addressed through this strategy are the crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls, which are domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, and so-called 'honour-based' violence including forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). We will continue to measure our success by seeking reductions in overall prevalence of these crimes as measured by the Crime Survey of England and Wales, and seek increased prosecutions and convictions, where appropriate. It is important to bring together our work in the UK with efforts to tackle these issues internationally, and so the 2016 Strategy, and this refresh, represents a 'One Government' approach. This Strategy Refresh also sits alongside other, closely linked pieces of work from across government such as the Victims' Strategy. We are clear that all victims of crime should be supported, but that particular hidden crimes merit their own, focused, response. We will also continue to ensure that our response to vulnerable people, and programmes of work to tackle modern slavery and child sexual abuse and exploitation, remain joined up and mutually supportive of this agenda. This refresh does not provide full details of all that has been achieved since 2016, and nor does it set out our full strategic vision for VAWG, which remains with the 2016 Ending VAWG Strategy. This document does not overtake the 2016 Strategy, and both should be considered together. Instead, this refresh provides a brief update on delivery achieved so far, captures additional programmes of work that have contributed to this agenda, and sets out new, additional actions that government will take forward that goes beyond those set out in the 2016 Strategy While we know that these crimes disproportionately affect women and girls, we also recognise that men and boys are victims too. The vision set out in this Strategy applies to male as well as female victims, but we have published a Male Victims Position Statement alongside this document, which clarifies and strengthens our response to male victims of these crimes, while still recognising the disproportionate impact on women. Details: London: Author, 2019. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2019 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783596/VAWG_Strategy_Refresh_Web_Accessible.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783596/VAWG_Strategy_Refresh_Web_Accessible.pdf Shelf Number: 155606 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Female Genital MutilationForced Marriage Gender-Based Violence Honor Based ViolenceModern Slavery Rape Sexual Violence StalkingViolence against Women and Girls |
Author: Thimanna, Sanchia Title: ECPAT Country Overview: Czechia Summary: Czechia is a central European country with a population of 10.7 million of which 1.8 million are children. Although a high-income country ranking 27th on the Human Development Index, poverty driven by socioeconomic inequality and ethnic discrimination continues to persist in Czechia. Children belonging to marginalized groups often live in excluded localities with substandard housing and drop out of school early to escape from discrimination entrenched in the education system. These factors contribute to making children highly vulnerable to sexual exploitation. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of exploitation of children in prostitution in Czechia, including those of very young children. High rates of Internet and mobile phone use among children in the country have facilitated online child sexual exploitation, by making it easier for perpetrators to establish contact with them. The sharing of self-generated sexual content among children is also a matter of growing concern. Czechia continues to be a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, with children comprising more than half of the identified victims of sale and trafficking for sexual purposes. The risk of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism is of grave importance, particularly in light of the exponential increase in the number travellers and tourists in the country. An emerging trend of cross-border trafficking for the purpose of fraudulent marriages has also put children in Czechia at risk. The country has ratified the main legal instruments to combat the sexual exploitation of children (SEC), including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, as well as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol). Czechia is also part of a number of international and regional commitments addressing SEC, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online. However, amendments to the national legislation are yet to be made for the definitions of all SEC-related offences to align with the ratified instruments and commitments. Further, loopholes in the legal framework need to be fixed in order to protect children above 15 years of age. Czechia does not have a national strategy or coordination body specifically addressing SEC. Some aspects of SEC are addressed within broader national strategies by different government bodies, mainly the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The trafficking of children has been prioritized in the National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings 2016-2019. Efforts have been made by the government to implement prevention measures through raising awareness, with much focus on safer Internet use by children. In terms of children's access to justice, Czechia does not have an Ombudsperson for Children to receive and resolve complaints made by children. Nevertheless, several child-sensitive measures have been put in place, including trainings for law enforcement personnel on how to communicate with child victims in specially designed hearing rooms. Czechia does not have specific recovery and reintegration services for victims of SEC, and could benefit from having clearer avenues for child victims to seek compensation. Although there has been progress in children's participation in matters of governance, efforts must be made to involve child victims and survivors in order to take their needs and interests into consideration while designing policies. Details: Bangkok: ECPAT International, 2019. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/news/czechia-child-sexual-exploitation-through-prostitution-reaches-new-high/ecpat-country-overview-czechia-czech-republic-2019/ Year: 2019 Country: Czech Republic URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ECPAT-Country-Overview-Czechia-Czech-Republic-2019.pdf Shelf Number: 155932 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Prostitution Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Child Victims CzechiaForced Marriage Sexual Exploitation of Children Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tour |
Author: Yonkova, Nusha Title: Protecting Victims: An Analysis of the Anti-Trafficking Directive from the Perspective of a Victims of Gender-Based Violence Summary: Trafficking in human beings is a highly gendered phenomenon, which disproportionately affects women and girls. This is particularly so in the case of trafficking for sexual exploitation and/or forced marriage, where the overwhelming majority of victims are women and girls (Europol 2016). A combination of root causes including gender inequalities, women and girls' vulnerability to domestic violence, and the demand for sexual services, makes them particularly vulnerable to trafficking (EPRS 2016). The Eurostat figures highlight the gendered nature of trafficking in human beings, with women and girls comprising 80% of registered victims in the reporting period (Eurostat 2015). The gendered nature of trafficking for sexual exploitation and/or forced marriage, and that of the harms which arise as a result, place these crimes within the wider continuum of gender-based violence and violence against women which require a gender sensitive response.... Details: Vilnius, Lithuania: European Institute for Gender Equality, 2017. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 12, 2019 at: https://eige.europa.eu Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: https://eige.europa.eu Shelf Number: 156398 Keywords: Forced MarriageGender-Based Violence Human Trafficking Sexual Exploitation Victims of Trafficking Violence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Tahirih Justice Center Title: Forced Marriage in Immigrant Communities in the United States: 2011 National Survey Results Summary: Forced marriage is a serious problem in the United States today, with as many as 3,000 known and suspected cases identified in just two years by respondents of Tahirih Justice Center survey. The fact that potentially thousands of young women and girls from immigrant communities may face forced marriages each year in the United States is alarming and demands attention. Details: Falls Church, Virginia: Tahirih Justice Center, 2011. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2019 at: https://www.tahirih.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/REPORT-Tahirih-Survey-on-Forced-Marriage-in-Immigrant-Communities-in-the-United-States.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.tahirih.org/pubs/forced-marriage-in-immigrant-communities-in-the-united-states/ Shelf Number: 156484 Keywords: Child MarriageForced MarriageImmigrant CommunitiesImmigrants |
Author: Sida Title: Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence: Expressions and Strategies Summary: Ending gender-based violence (GBV) and ensuring women's security is a priority for the Swedish government, a priority reflected in central objectives of Swedish policy for development cooperation. Sida defines GBV as any harm or suffering that is perpetrated against a woman or girl, man or boy and that has negative impact on the physical, sexual or psychological health, development or identity of the person. The cause of this violence is founded in gender-based inequalities and discrimination. GBV is the most extreme expression of these unequal gender relations in society, and a violation of human rights, as well as a main hindrance of the achievement of gender equality. In Sida's work an important point of departure is that GBV is preventable, which entails a focus on the root causes of violence and on possibilities for change. Women and girls are mostly affected by GBV, and globally at least one third of all women have been exposed to violence in an intimate relationship, but also men and boys can be subjected to GBV. Regardless, the violence is linked to gender inequalities and norms for gender. Most commonly GBV occurs in the family, but it also takes place at other arenas in society, private and public. GBV is an umbrella definition including a wide range of expressions of violence such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence by non-partners, Female Genital mutilation (FGM), honour violence, early marriage, violence against LGBTI and trafficking in human beings. In situations of war and conflict, GBV is particularly present. Entry points in addressing GBV is that gender-based violence is a violation of human rights, and that tackling GBV is crucial for poverty reduction and economic development. GBV is furthermore a key to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and reverse the spread of HIV. It is also a security concern and a prerequisite for sustainable peace. When defining effective strategies to end a priority is to make efforts to prevent GBV. Given that GBV is linked to gender-based power inequalities, key in GBV prevention are efforts to increase gender equality and transformation of gender norms. Prevention strategies entail a shift from "victims" to "survivors" with a focus on women and girl's empowerment and agency, efforts to increase women's political and economic empowerment and sexual and reproductive rights, and to incorporate men and boys in the work. The strengthening of legal and policy framework is also of outmost importance, as are efforts to bridge the gap between law and practice and to end the impunity for GBV. Response to survivors, which meets their rights to protection and access to services, including shelters and health sector services, is also core. Details: Stockholm, Sweden: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 15, 2019 at: https://www.sida.se/contentassets/3a820dbd152f4fca98bacde8a8101e15/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://www.sida.se/English/publications/159477/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence-expressions-and-strategies/ Shelf Number: 156918 Keywords: Female Genital MutilationForced MarriageGender Based ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceTrafficking in PersonsViolence Against Women |